Cars 2 (2011)

John Lasseter's Cars was a movie promoting the value of slowing down and enjoying life. His own sequel is a glamorous, thrilling spy movie that just happens to take place in a world inhabited only by talking machines. That doesn't really make sense to me, seeing as how Lasseter has always been the strong backbone to Pixar's creativity. Cars 2 feels just plain lazy; a guaranteed commercial success that doesn't really need to say or do anything that people will remember it for. It is a relatively fun little movie, but even in its purpose to entertain it flounders because none of it is very funny or interesting. Basically, Mater joins Lightning McQueen on a trip oversees for the first World Grand Prix. Mater is mistaken for a spy in disguise and he is convinced by two British Intelligence agents to help them stop whoever's destroying the race cars. Plus, Mater and Lightning are having friendship trouble because Mater's so stupid. But everybody learns a valuable lesson in the end.

This is the very first time something half-baked has come out of the golden studio Pixar, who has had an otherwise perfect record when it comes to the quality of their films. If one were to compare Cars 2 to the other movies in the stunning Pixar canon, it is clearly inferior. Though, compare it to other animated movies from other studios lately, for the most part, and Cars 2 is still the better. This is because Lasseter and his gang knows how to make a movie. Cars 2 is a more than adequate little movie, but it lacks a certain something that has made every other movie from these guys so memorable and popular. If there's one credit I can give this movie, it's the always incredible attention to detail these computer animated movies sport. When done right, these things can be really epic and spectacular, and, in that area, every image in Cars 2 excels. The voice actors, particularly Larry the Cable Guy as mater, have fun with their characters as well, although I still find Owen Wilson a little grating as in the original.

Nothing special, nothing bad. Cars 2 is an entertaining movie that will keep kids and their parents busy even though it's a little long and is noticeably missing a little magic. Acceptable is usually expected when it comes to normal family movies, but knowing these creators' track record, this project is a little disappointing.

7/10