22nd
June, 2006
DAVID
ADAMS
Cars
(G)
In a word:
Slick
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REVHEADS:
Tow Mater and his 'best friend' Lightning McQueen.
"Cars
shows how far animation has come over the past decade
- so good are the expressions, one almost forgets
that they are cars and not people. Well, almost."
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There’s
nothing particularly new about cars playing a central role
in a movie or TV show: one needs go no further than Herbie
or Knight Rider’s crime-fighting car Kit. But Pixar’s
latest animated release Cars takes the whole idea
to a new level. They’ve not only created a world in
which cars can talk, but a world wholly populated only by
cars - a rev-head’s paradise. As a movie, Cars
can stand tall among its animated peers - this is a well-scripted
and beautifully detailed film which will capture the attention
of kids from the first crash and hold it right to the end.
Cars shows how far animation has come over the past
decade - so good are the expressions, one almost forgets that
rookie racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson),
his drawling pal Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), blue Porsche
Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt) and the secretive Hudson ‘Doc’
Hornet (Paul Newman) are cars and not people. Well, almost.
It’s a familiar enough plot - a snazzy urban race car
accidentally ends up stuck in Hicksville (here known as Radiator
Springs) and learns that there’s much to life than winning
the Piston Cup - but it’s nicely done and, like Pixar’s
previous hits Finding Nemo and Toy Story,
will leave you feeling warm all over. Alongside the large
cast of quirky characters, there is some stunning ‘wild
west’ scenery to please your eye and, as well as some
nods to Pixar’s previous efforts, car fans will enjoy
the cameo “appearances” by the likes of racing
legends Michael Schumacher and Mario Andretti. At just under
two hours, it may prove something of a task for some young
children but for me and mine, the time flew by. There’s
a small bonus for those who don’t feel a need for speed
and hang around the cinema long enough to see the last of
the credits roll by.
SEE THE SIGHT ON THE SCREEN ARCHIVES FOR MORE...
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