Cars 2 was a disappointment. Itโs fine entertainment for kids, but for the adults accompanying them, not really. Cars 3 is a big improvement, and not only because its story is more original; itโs also a logical next step in the series. This is a true sequel.
Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) has been racing for ten years and itโs starting to show. Itโs not that heโs lost his touch, itโs that rookie Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) and the other new cars are faster, more efficient speed machines. In order to avoid forced into retirement, Lightning needs to re-examine his techniqueย and that means teaming up with racing technician/trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo).
I love the premise because it reflects real-world events. Iโm not only talking about Nascar racing either. It seems to me that today, innovation is a dying art in sports. It's not about coming up with new techniques, it's figuring out how to be 1% more aerodynamicย than the next guy, or punching numbers into a computer to determine the optimum track. If your life was spent fine tuning your technique on the pavement, do you even want to race on those who spent their practice time in front of a computer... and wind up faster than you? In a world of cars, how can lightning McQueen compete against a machine thatโs simply been built to be faster? Thatโs what heโd be worried about down the line, not whether or not his best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy, in a much smaller role this time around) can get to the bottom of some spy business.
This is a more mature story, which is appropriateย considering the first Carsย came out in 2006. The animation is terrific and the voice acting strong. There are even some moments here and there where it gets to be a little bit adult, like when Lightning reflects back on his now-deceased mentor Doc Hudson. Itโs still fine for kids, but thereโs a level of sophistication here that I appreciated.
I was able to predict the ending ahead of time, not all of the jokes land and some of the characters couldโve been developed further. Iโm still going to give Cars 3 a 4/5 rating. As a follow-up to Cars, which in my opinion is good, but not great, this is very satisfying. Yes, Iโm judging it on a scale, but I think you have to when critiquing a sequel.
Cars 3 is everything Cars 2 wasnโt. Even without comparing it to the second picture, or the Planes spinoff series, itโs a well thought-out story that shows maturity and intelligence. Before your kids run off to the washroom, get them to sit down and stay all the way to the end of the credits; thereโs a scene for you to enjoy there. (Theatrical version on the big screen, June 21, 2017)