Wow, wow... wrooom!
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| kachow! A still from Cars |
Cars
***
Dir: John Lasseter
Cast: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman
Tushar Joshi
tushar.joshi@mid-day.com
Plot: These days, every Pixar release is as good as an event. Their latest release, Cars, has all the ingredients of typical Pixar fare. Witty one-liners, eye candy animation, goofy characters and a feel-good sound track. Even though the film doesn't any human character, every car reflects their personalities. Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is a self-obsessed racecar aiming to win the majestic Piston Cup. After a tie in the finals with The King and Chick Hicks, McQueen heads to California for a deciding lap. On the way, he strays into a long-forgotten town. After getting to know the place's history, McQueen realises he has lot to learn that can help win, not just the race, but some friends as well.
Acting: Paul Newman is a legend, so when you take his name in the same breath as Owen Wilson, it does sound weird. Giving a perfect voice over as the elusive Doc Hudson who has an illustrious past that he wants to forget, Newman overshadows every other character. Wilson's arrogance in the beginning and the volte-face towards the end comes across well. Keaton doesn't take too long to make you hate Chick Hicks. It's an ensemble that works largely due to the characters sketched out rarely well.
What's hot: Who doesn't like racing cars? Using them as the perfect bait to weave an imaginative story comes easy to the studio. The first half takes time to get a hold on you, but the second totally makes up for it. It's hard not to fall for the bunny-toothed Mator or the Italian tyre seller Guido. These cars accelerate and rev you up on every level. Also using the racetrack and a championship cup as a backdrop was a smart move. In spite of knowing the predictable climax, you want to root for McQueen and help him find his own identity in the process. Also keep a look out for digs and puns intended at other films — not necessarily animated. The scenery is stunning. Notice how everything in the film is cars (suggest checking even the flies).
What's not: Since's it's a Disney film, brace yourself for some cheesy moments. Also, there's no adult humour in the film, it's totally a kiddie flick. Would've been interesting to let the chemistry between McQueen and the Doc develop and see where it goes. There are times when the plot moves as slowly as the country song playing in the background. Don't expect too many chuckles, as the flow of humour doesn't match the raciness of McQueen.
Bottom line: Cars may not be a 'must have' sort of film yet promises a good time. Also I would recommend watching the animation short before the film — One Man Band
CID
51