PLANES

US, 2013, 91 minutes, Colour.
Dane Cook, Stacey Keach, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Julia Louis- Dreyfuss, John Cleese, Cedric the Entertainer, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards.
Directed by Klay Hall.

Planes comes from the Pixar Studios. It is not one of their outstanding films but is more entertaining, better than their two ventures into the world of Cars.
This time they have a very simple plot: a small crop-dusting plane with Walter Mitty-like imagination and heroics, wants to break free from ordinary life and the routine of crop-dusting. His old boss plane he is wary. The repair machine is positive that Dusty will have no success. However, he does enter the competition, just missing out on a spot with his timing and flight but finally being accepted when another plane is accused of cheating.

In the meantime he makes contact with a World War II veteran plane who has not flown for decades. The old captain tests out Dusty and decides to support him, helping with his training for the competition, because Dusty finds that he has a fear of Heights.

The animation for the flying sequences is quite spectacular, one of the best features of the film – also the locations for the different stops along the way. The voices are also good with Dane Cook as Dusty, Stacey Keach as the old captain and, very recognizable, John Cleese as very British plane, Bulldog. There is also a Mexican plane who has fallen in love with the Australian entrant, but is rejected by her until he serenades her romantically.

The main part of the film consists of the various stages of the competition, the stops around the world in the air race, (though confined to the northern hemisphere): Iceland, Germany, through the Himalayas where dusty go through a tunnel instead of flying over them and gains time, China, Mexico and the final stage to New York City.

Obviously there has to be a villain, a vain and cheating competitor, who falls foul of his vanity and his playing to the media.

There is also a subplot about the captain and his World War II activities leading to Dusty’s disappointment.
It is the story of the little plane, looked down on, but drawing on energy and self-confidence and winning in the end.

1. An entertaining animation film from Pixar studios? High expectations? The impact of Cars and Cars 2? Similarities and differences?

2. The plot, the small plane, Dusty, seen as a loser, with a vivid imagination, his work in crop dusting, wanting to go into the competition, the help from the old plane, Dottie, the repairer? The old captain? The test, coming sixth, the cheating plane and his being able to enter? The training, his fear of heights? The stages of the journey, the adventures, the help, the main opponent, the final competitiveness and his victory?

3. The animation: the landscapes, the sea, the different continents, the vivid flying sequences, the contrast with Dusty his ordinary life, his skilful flying, his achievement?

4. The voice cast and their suiting their characters? The musical score?

5. Dusty as a Walter Mitty kind of plane, the initial sequence of his imagining his success, the reality and down to earth, the old plane and his advice about real life, Dottie and her scepticism? The captain and his assistant, the stories of the war? The details of the training, Dusty and his fear of heights, but succeeding, everybody laughing at his entry, passing the test, receiving the message that he was accepted? The support team? His being considered a loser, the determination, competitiveness?

6. The plot including the media, the coverage of the flight, the interviews, the broadcast and the planes watching, the range of audience, the media
support?

7. The vain plane, his henchmen? The Indian plane, attracted to Dusty, the cheating with the propeller and her giving it to Dusty? The British plane with John Cleese’s voice? The romantic Mexican, his attraction to the Australian plane? Her initial rejection? His serenading her and her response?

8. The Iceland sequences, the cold? The contrast with Germany, the fan plane and his transformation, and adulation of dusty, and turning up at the end? The crossing of the Himalayas, going through the tunnel, the danger with a train, his getting ahead? Arriving in China, the adventures? The romance? His team? The contact with the captain and the others? At sea, the cheating plane taking his equipment, his landing on the ship, getting help, the repairs? The captain’s medal, the truth, Dusty and his disillusionment?

9. The captain, Dusty and his Sad reaction, the medal, the captain telling his story, training the young planes, their going into action, brashness, his allowing them to do this, the destruction?

10. The team coming to support Dusty?

11. The experience on the ship, the takeoff and landing, going to Mexico?

12. To New York, the vain plane, Dusty going up the list, recovering his leadership, his being despondent, his being encouraged by the captain? The vain plane and the media, showing his good side to the cameras - and losing the flight and the competition?

13. The achievement of the small hero? The underdog? Happiness? Reconciliation all round?