Cars

I got Cars last Christmas and since I am a bit slow on reviewing things I decided why not to write a review, I just watched it again today. Cars is an animated movie done by Pixar in 2006, it came out during the huge Disney Pixar fight that came on last year has Disney was busy reshuffling it's senior management and Pixar was wanting to leave. Well everything turned up roses for both companies has Pixar is now fully under the Disney bandwagon and there creative staff is now in charge of Disney animated movie, but the effects of there fight can be seen on the DVD and the fact that it has about has much extras has a pinto.

Story.
Lighting Mcqueen is a fast new hot rod out to win the piston cup but because of his arrogance and because he forgot to put on wheels when his pit crew told him to he lost 2 of his tires and wound up tying with 2 other cars. His rival Chick and the old experience racer called the King. Hurrying to California to get to the track were they will have there rematch on Lighting bullies his semi car Mac into going without a break, when Mac falls asleep Lighting slips out and since Lighting doesn't have any real head lights (race tracks are always lit) he gets lost in the road and winds up in Radiator Springs a sleepy town off of the interstate on route 66. Unfortunately since he was in a panic when he enter the town he manages to completely trash the main road and before Doc the judge lets him leave he will have to fix the road using Bessie.

This movie follows a lot off an old Michael J Fox movie called Doc Hollywood were a quick jet setting young man crashes in a small town and has to stay there for a few days and learns the simple life. The same thing happens here Lighting starts off has a jerk but has he starts to mingle and make friends in Radiator Springs he changes. And the towns folks are colorful. You have the Italian tire sales men Luigi, the gas station owner Flo, and of course the tow truck Mator. Each of these characters have there own personality and you can't help but grow to love them has the movie goes on. Of course there is Doc has well who hates Lighting but he has his reasons and you find out why having Lighting around kind of irritates him later in the movie.

The animation in the movie shows that Pixar gets better in each movie. At first they look like cars used in an old gas station commercial but when the animation the movie looks fantastic. While the talking cars are done light and cartoony you can't help that the desert look of the route 66 town like Radiator Springs look real. Things like dirt and desert grass look pretty animated that you forget that you're watching a cartoon. And the artwork of the movie gives a nice look on old small town Americana with a cartoon twist.

The movie also has a good share of good VA's. Owen Wilson does a good job of the youthful and arrogant Lighting, while Tony Salob does his Italian act to another level with Luigi, and of course Larry the Cable guy has the eccentric Mator.

If there is one bad thing I have to say about the movie though it would be the pacing is a bit slow. It's almost 2 hour long and there are plenty of slow parts in the movie that feel like they were put there for filler sometimes. Still while it does slow down the movie never stops and remains entertaining.

The DVD
Even though Pixar and Disney had sealed there merger before the DVD release, the DVD plans and what the extra are done a month or two before the movie is released in theaters. And Cars is subject to it, rather then the two disc DVD release bursting to the seams with extra. Cars gets a 1 disc release and is kind of bare. What we have hear is some deleted scenes, the outtakes seen at the end of the movie done in full screen without the credits (a good joke with John Razenburger is done hear so it's worth a look), and a look at route 66. And that's it no commentary or any other features which is kind of disappointing.

Final Recommendation.
I liked Cars a lot it takes Doc Hollywood and gives it a nice animated twist. The animation and voice work are great and the movie is pretty entertaining. Despite any extras on the DVD the movie is still worth owning.