New Car Smell; Old Plot Stink
Review by Jake
Release Date: June 9th
Tagline: Ahhh… it’s got that new movie smell.
Synopsis: Cars is the saga of Lightning McQueen, a hot-shot animated stock-car voiced by actor Owen Wilson. In route to a big race, the cocky McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family.
Trailer Review: (**Note: There are a multitude of trailers out there, so I will review the median of information offered in them**) Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), is the best race car out there. And like any true celebrity, he eventually gets tired of the people and things that surround him and becomes jaded to other people (well, cars in this case). He suffers a small accident and lands himself in a 1950’s-esque town called Radiator Springs. Surprising to him, no one has heard of him. During his time there, he learns to value friends and family. He meets a girl. He falls in love. In the end he becomes stronger and faster for what he has learned there.
Trailer Verdict: Maybe its just me. Maybe I am looking for things to knock this movie down. But I can’t help notice that this movie is basically ripping off the plot of “Doc Hollywood”. He was the best young doctor. He has an accident that winds him up in Small Town USA. He meets a girl. He falls in love. In the end he becomes stronger for what he learned there. If at the end of Cars, Lightning McQueen opts to stay in Radiator Springs with his new found friends and the girl, or takes on a show pig as a pet, I would say that the makers of Doc Hollywood have a good lawsuit on their hands.
Movie Verdict: Despite the royalty suit they may encounter, I think this movie should be a worthwhile theater adventure. Even though Vanilla Ice ripped off David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure”, we still loved “Ice Ice Baby,” right? Right?!? Anyways, though the plot may be recycled, the humor is clean, sharp, and up to date. The cast list is also up to date and features some heavy hitters, too (George Carlin, Paul Newman, Larry The Cable Guy, Michael Keaton, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, as well as race car drivers Richard Petty, Michael Waltrip, and announcer Bob Costas). Add that its made by Pixar, who has yet to produce a real flop (and I don’t think this will their first), and it should make for a decent all around movie, on par with some of their other animated adventures. Good for the whole family, too.
Plugs: 2
From the makers of “The Incredibles” and “Finding Nemo.”
Trailer: www.IMDb.com