Cars 2

Cars 2 is the latest full length animated feature from the creative geniuses at Pixar. It is a sequel to the 2006 hit Cars and features all the favorite roadsters, except the Hudson Hornet played by Paul Newman, and introduces a couple of new characters.

Lighting McQueen (Owen Wilson) has had a successful career as a stock car racer, but know he has excepted a challenge to participate in an international Grand Prix. His best friend Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) travels along as part of his pit crew and becomes mistaken for an American spy.

Cars 2 is a spoof on the James Bond Movies of the 60's with the cars having unique gadgets of their own. The new cars are a Finn McMissle (Micheal Caine) a British secret agent and Holly Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer) his able bodied assistant. 

Mater is the real star of the movie as the British agents mistake him for an American spy in disguise. When his antics embarrass McQueen and cause him to lose the first race in Tokyo, Mater and Lightning are on the outs. It's not until they reach London at the conclusion when they repair their friendship and save the day.

Many critics have given the film poor reviews because they compare it to Pixar's outstanding films such as Up, Toy Story 3, Wall-E and Ratatouille, and that's not really fair. Each film should be based on it's own merits not the merits of previous work. The movie is fast paced, highly inventive and has lots of funny moments. Kids should love it, but for me a little bit of Mater goes a long way. The film lacks the originality of the first film and the story while the spy story is a funny satire, the relationship story between the two buddies felt old and tired. Good but not great work from Pixar.

The Pixar team does an excellent job of using 3D technology to great benefit and I saw the film in IMAX 3D and from that aspect it was great experience.

At The Movie House rating **1/2 stars. Recommended with reservations.