Cars 2. Rated PG (mild animated violence and coarse language). 113 minutes. Directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis. Screenplay by Ben Queen.
Computer animation royalty Pixar Animation Studios are responsible for raising the bar almost impossibly high, and with Cars 2 there is absolutely no doubt that they remain the masters and mistresses of their domain.
The CGI environments they have created for this sequel to the much-maligned Cars (2006) are out of this world – and the cinematography by Jeremy Lasky and Sharon Calahan (Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life) is sheer perfection. Michael Giacchino’s (Star Trek, Up, The Incredibles) score, too, is a fantastic accompaniment to the new adventures of Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and his loyal best friend Mater the Tow Truck (Larry the Cable Guy) as they hit the international Grand Prix circuit on a whistle-stop tour to promote clean fuel.
What is particularly fantastic about this sequel, though, is the way in which Lasseter, Lewis and Queen take on the celebrated espionage genre – with the result being a better ‘007’ film than practically any of the actual 007 films that have come before it. It’s ambitious and audacious great fun – all edited into a breath-taking, chaotic, high-octane action adventure by Stephen Schaffer (WALL-E, Cars).
Chiefly responsible are Michael Caine (Special Agent Finn McMissile) and Emily Mortimer (Special Agent Holly Shiftwell) who absolutely nail it – with Ms Mortimer, in particular, obviously thoroughly enjoying her riff on everyone from Barbara Feldon’s Agent 99 in Get Smart to Judi Dench’s M in Casino Royale.
As we have come to expect from Pixar in the storytelling department, the now signature themes of the importance of loyalty, trust and friendship all play out effortlessly, and the environmentally-inspired clean fuel subplot is neatly woven into the action. And as I walked home through the carpark, I must admit to having a few sideways glances at all the cars parked around me – contemplating whether or not they had just stopped talking as I approached. Now that’s magic at work.
This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.
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