Review of Cars 3 (2017) by Aadit A — 09 Nov 2017

For more than 20 years, Pixar Animation Studios has produced several of different classics. Some are excellent films with in-depth storytelling, like Toy Story 3 and Inside Out. Others have upset the critics and the box office records, like Cars 2. Well, Cars 3, however, fits this category of a "fresh" Pixar movie.

After the joke that was Cars 2, Pixar decided to step up this franchise's game by pitching a third entry. The movie studio also realized that die-hards of the series would enjoy the third movie being more in tune with the original. Throughout the film, there were few adult jokes, nostalgic score from 2006 original, and stunning computer-generated imagery animation.

As the film progresses the chemistry between Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), the veteran racing champion, and Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), McQueen's high-tech trainer, develops from total strangers to close friends. During the final race, for example, McQueen sacrifices his position in the race to give Ramirez her chance to win her first Piston Cup championship. While this sounds very heroic, the reality is that National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) rookies must enter the rookie division to compete in national championships. However, Cars 3 is an exception to the reality because this is an entertaining, children's film, not a documentary on how to become a racecar driver and retire.

Although this is a poignant story about retirement and learning from elders, Cars 3 still manages to be defined as a comedy and family-friendly film. Almost no one was expecting a happy ending to a film where the main character almost dies in the teaser trailer. The overall tone makes the targeted audience feel welcome and happy to have attended an incredible movie. Randy Newman's score transformed the movie from a sad drama to a happy, fun comedy, using themes from the original film, including "The Big Race" which is nostalgic for many people.

In the end, the sorrow and tragic storylines are not enough to save this flat-tired animated franchise. Cars 3 is the perfect example of how a sequel should be constructed and created, using nostalgic scores and kid-friendly jokes for audiences of all ages to laugh. While animated "threequels" like Shrek the Third and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs are charming comedies for fellow audiences, only Cars 3 produces comedy, drama, and nostalgia for audiences of all ages.