Cars 2
2011 · Directed by John Lasseter
Original language: English
- animation
- family
- adventure
- comedy
The story
Star race car Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated animation with glossy, sun-warmed surfaces: rust-orange desert roads, neon-lit Tokyo streets at night, Italian piazzas in golden afternoon light, and the sleek blue-grey gloom of a spy hideout. The camera moves with brisk, sweeping energy through racing sequences and cuts quickly between set-pieces, while the quieter scenes settle into soft, warm framing on the characters' faces. The score leans on bouncy, jaunty guitar and brass with heavy spy-thriller pulses in the chase scenes, so the sound is busy and upbeat rather than tense for long. Its vibe is breezy, goofy adventure with a light caper edge. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night, or a comfort watch for anyone who likes cheerful travelogue scenery. Intensity is low: there are chases, explosions, crashes and a few menacing villain moments, but no gore, and the danger is cartoonish and bloodless. The emotional arc follows a vain racer learning loyalty and humility while his gentle, bumbling best friend is drawn into a larger mission. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with plenty of slapstick. It is made for families and for anyone wanting an easy, gentle-natured action comedy.
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