CARS 2

US, 2011, 106 minutes. Colour.
Voices: Larry the Cable Guy, Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard, John Turturro, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Kretschmann, Bonnie Hunt, Franco Nero, Tony Shalhoub, Jeff Garlin, Jason Isaacs, Bruce Campbell, Jenifer Lewis, Vanessa Redgrave, Cheech Marin, Paul Dooley, Edie Mc Clurg, Richard Kind, Katherine Helmond, John Ratzenberger.
Directed by John Lasseter.

Cars has been the least interesting and appealing of the steady string of successes from Pixar animation. They have won most of the Oscars for Best Animation feature for the least eight years. Cars did not win. (Australia’s Happy Feet won that year.) On the other hand, it had its entertaining moments, the personalising of the cars, their way of talking (and the actors, from Owen Wilson, Paul Newman and Larry, the Cable Guy, providing eccentric voices), the action in the races and the comic touches.

Expectations for a sequel? Not so high, despite the fact that Cars 2 has been directed by the head of Pixar itself, John Lasseter. I gradually warmed to it, despite the fact that at the session I attended there were a number of unengaged very little girls for whom the film was definitely not made. Cars and Cars 2 are a bit macho in their plots and characters, though this one has a British female secret agent car.

The secret agent story was a bit of a surprise. And with a very evident Michael Caine voicing the main agent, with Emily Mortimer as Holly, his young aide, the spy story is the main focus. Which puts Owen Wilson’s Lightning Mc Queen, the champion racing car and his exploits and Italian rival, Francesco (John Turturro), somewhat into the background. But, into the foreground comes the comic character of the first film, Mater, the rusty old towtruck from Radiator Springs. If you want to know how Mater can become involved in espionage in Japan, Paris, the Italian Riviera and in London, collaborating with the British, you will have to see the film.

Larry the Cable Guy comes into his own as Mater and is the most prominent character in the film. He is the auto version of the Little Guy who is underestimated by everyone as more than a bit of a fool (the British think this is his genius as a cover for his work as an agent), is told off by McQueen?, but who, of course, saves the day after a chase around London and is reconciled with everyone.

The basic message of the film is a green one, strongly critical of oil companies and manoeuvres to prevent the expansion of alternate sources of energy. The trouble is that the villain of the piece is obvious early on.

Not the greatest of Pixar’s efforts (think of Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille,, Wall-E, Up and the Toy Story films) but more entertaining than expected.

1. The popularity of the original film? The sequel? The need for a sequel? A different kind of story?

2. Pixar Studios, their reputation, their skills? The work of John Lasseter? Audiences, animation? Humour?

3. The visual style of the film, the cars, personalising them, the drawing? The locations? America, Radiator Springs, Japan, Italy and the Italian Riviera, France, London? Anthropomorphising the cars?

4. The emphasis on the special relationship between America and the UK? The lyrics of the final song?

5. The strength of the voices, giving character to the cars?

6. Radiator Springs, its look, the vehicles, an old town, the canyons?

7. The focus on Mater, the tow-truck? The visuals of the rusty truck? The character, Larry the Cable Guy? Mater as a fool, laughed at, the issue of being himself or not? His friendship with Lightning Mc Queen, Mc Queen’s return and his being overjoyed, Sally and the date, as the waiter, interfering? Wanting to go, Mc Queen inviting him? Going to Japan, helping, hindering, the messes? The comedy? The race? The failure? Mc Queen and his irritation with Mater? His being taken up by the spies? By mistake? In the plane? Looking at the photos, giving the information about engines? Going to Paris, the shop with the spare parts? Going to Italy, the race, the disaster, the various disguises, his being caught? Going to the United Kingdom? Trapped in Big Ben, getting out, having the bomb? Wanting to warn Lightning? Going backwards? Mc Queen pursuing him? Her Majesty watching? The issue of the oil? The renegade cars? The scientist? Mater and his understanding the plans? His realising that Sir A xelrod was the villain? Confronting the queen, Sir Axelrod? The defusing of the bomb at the last minute? Going back home, the friendship with the spies, their coming to visit? The issue of the dents – and Holly wanting to keep her dents? The rockets and his speeding? With Lightning and Sally? Being himself?

8. Lightning Mc Queen, the champion, the past achievements, the return home, with Sally, Francesco and his rivalry? His vanity? In Japan, the failure? Anger? Harsh words to Mater? Going to Italy, the races, winning – but not realising the destruction of all the other cars? Francesco as a character, his rivalry, at home in Italy, his vanity, the defiance of Lightning and vice-versa? In the United Kingdom? The bomb? The reconciliation? The final race in Radiator Springs?

9. The spy car on the boat, the liner in the middle of the ocean, the new gas field, the British espionage system, the mission, the photos, seeing the camera? On the job? Holly and her youth, inexperience? The feminine touch? Discovering Mater, on the plane, presuming that he was a spy? His accompanying them in Paris, the issue of the spare parts, the technology to track down the villain? In Italy, the destruction of all the cars? Finn and his being caught? Everybody imprisoned in Big Ben? The intervention, getting loose? The harsh words of Finn about Mater as a fool? His taking them back? Holly and the issue of the dents?

10. Sir Axelrod, his seemingly progressive on the environment? The truth? The other characters, the professor, his thugs, the plan about the oil, the zapping of the cars with the camera? The final bomb? Sir Axelrod having to admit the truth?

11. Lightning, his team, their helping? The jokes about tree-hugging? Flo and her tough stance? Sally and the admiration for Francesco?

12. The British scenes, the film’s love for everything British? The scenes of London? The queen? Knighting Sir Mater?

13. The message – especially about the environment and oil and alternative fuels?