Review of Cars 3 (2017) by Kevin F — 26 Jul 2017

Ka-Chow! Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is back on the race track, this time with Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) on the rise. Mr.Storm is part of a new generation of racers looking to take over and change the sport. Along with their new technology and training methods these racers are faster than the "old timers". McQueen is left to decide step aside or compete with these "rookies".

In Pixar's third installment of the Cars franchise, our beloved race car, Lightning McQueen suffers a terrible accident on the race track due to Jackson Storm and his speed. McQueen was told his racing days are coming to an end. He remembers his mentor, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) going through a similar situation and being told to quit when he had more left in him. McQueen decides he will not retire, he thinks he can beat Storm. Together with his trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo) they start training to beat the fast Jackson Strom.

Cars 3 looks great. Jeremy Lasky, Micheal Sparber and Kim White make a phenomenal cinematography team. The racing scenes look realistic, intense and breathtaking. The stadium, the woods and training facility look wonderful. Although, we have seen this passing of the torch, contemplating retirement, old guy v new guy storyline in other sports films, Pixar utilizes it well and works. The music went hand in hand with the scenes. There was a heartwarming moment in the film, where Miss Ramirez tells her backstory, it was a scene that stood out in the film.

We see many familiar faces in McQueen (Owen Wilson), Mator (Larry "The Cable Guy"), Sally (Bonnie Hunt) and the old pit crew. We also see new faces in Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer), Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), Smokey (Chris Cooper) and some others. All voices fit the character, Armie Hammer in particular was a terrific casting. Cars 3 used Mator wisely dropping him in strategically throughout the film. As well as Doc Hudson, recalling him at times. The opening or Act I was fantastic, really reeled audiences in. Act II was slow, there wasn't much going on there and Act III returns to close the movie out.

Overall, Cars 3 is decent film. 3 out of 5 stars, 60%, C-. It isn't the best Pixar film and certainly doesn't bring back Pixar to it's glory days yet it isn't the worst Pixar film (that's Cars 2, good job on pretending that film didn't happen). The film's target audience are kids/youth but not really. The movie has a lot of dialogue, plot fillers and it ties back to Cars. The children don't understand that and want to see McQueen be silly, race and hang out at radiator springs. This film has a much serious tone and the idea of legacy. Finding meaning in what you do, the impact you and your actions have on other, passing the torch and never giving up on yourself are all themes that register more with an older audiences.

Despite John Lasseter only producing, Director Brian Fee did a noble job on Cars 3. Again, not the bad, but not necessarily good. Very average and not the Pixar glory days. Maybe, McQueen's racing days are coming to an end.