CARS 3
US, 2017, 102 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonso, Chris Cooper, Nathan Filion, Larry the Cable Guy, Armie Hammer, Tony Shalhoub, Bonnie Hunt, Kerry Washington, Margo Martindale, Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Directed by Brian Fee.
While there have been many entertaining Pixar animation film is, it is only Toy Story (four episodes) and now Cars, three episodes, which have led to substantial sequels.
For those coming on the Cars franchise for the first time, they will need to do quite a lot of revision because we are now seeing Lightning McQueen in his (comparatively) old age, not doing as well in the races as he did in the earlier films but still held in enormously high regard. Owen Wilson is back again voicing Lightning in his familiar and easy-going drawl.
At this time he has to learn that there is a younger generation, with highly improved and modern technology, some mocking attitude towards their elders, and plenty of arrogance as they win their races (one, especially, Jackson Storm, voiced by Armie Hammer).
The moral of this episode is that cars (and, of course, people) have to acknowledge that they grow older, that they haven’t quite the stamina of the past. But, this does not mean that they need to give up. They need to capitalise on their abilities, channelling them perhaps in different directions.
Behind all this is the story of Doc Hudson (formerly voiced by Paul Newman, with a credit in this film with some voice engineering), who was a champion, admired by Lightning, his protégé and, with the help of quite a number of old-culture cars and trucks, especially juice to (voiced by Chris Cooper), encouraged to try again on the racing circuit, doing some extraordinary training in a very modern centre, even with simulator, and coached by a perky female car, Cruz (a confidently forceful Cristela Alonso)
Lightning also does a whole lot of training out in the desert, learning to whirl in the dust on curves, finding the open spaces and windows in getting through a herd of cattle, all of which helps in the final testing race.
It does seem fairly obvious halfway through the film that Lightning is on the way out as a racer, despite his best efforts, but that he will come to realise that Cruz, even though she is labelled a trainer, has all the abilities to be a winner. (There has been a lot of comment in recent times about roles for women on the screen – and this time there is acknowledgement of equality between men and women or, at least, between male and female cars, and Cruz is also Hispanic).
A lot of the old characters are back, there is a lot of special effects work to make the races more effective, that the audience feels that they are in the middle of them. And, for those who wait through the rather long credits, there is an enjoyable little epilogue with Larry the Cable Guy doing his ditzy thing as Mater.
1. The popularity of the series? The range of cars and vehicles, the human style, their voices, appearances, characters, training, the races?
2. The style of animation, humanising the vehicles, their eyes, mouths, look? Voices, actions? The parallel with human behaviour? The backgrounds, the country town, Radiator Springs, Thomasville and the track, Florida and the races? The musical score?
3. A film for fans of racing, visualising the races, immersing the audience in the middle of the races, motion, speed, techniques, pitstops? The crowds and their applause?
4. Lightning McQueen, Owen Wilson’s voice, the past stories? His being older, in the race, beaten by Jackson Storm, facing the challenge from the young? The range of friends, his four months in seclusion, Sally persuading him to come out of himself, the challenge? The memories of Doc, Mater and co-? His being spruced up, taken on by Sterling, going to the Centre for training, the encounter with Cruz? Smokey and the others and their support, the memories of Doc? The training centre, the new techniques, Cruz and her drills, the other cars, learning, the exercises and Lightning impatient to go to the simulator? Cruz and Lightning going out, searching, Smoky and the others, the practice out in the desert? The whirling and the dust, hitting through crowds with the cattle, windows of opportunity, clouds? The bond between Cruz and Lightning?
5. Jackson Storm, young, winning, his attitude, admiring Lightning but mocking him? His training, the preparation for the race? Lightning, Lightning withdrawing, Cruz as substitute, his going back to her, his fears, attitude and behaviour, mean-minded? Defeated?
6. The themes of the old and the young, the old having to decide when to retire, to take new parts?
7. Audience enjoyment of the characters and the idiosyncrasies?
8. Racing, Lightning realising that he could not win, his memories, the decision to retire, inviting Cruz to go in, Sterling’s opposition, Lightning coaching her during the race? Her victory? The Texan owner, the financial deals? His new phase, coaching and encouraging? And his having co-one with Cruz?
9. A new era, new look?
10. An interesting Hollywood theme with female quality with males – for a younger audience?
