I'm actually shocked by how low the ratings are for this movie. I thought it was the best Cars film and a pretty solid film in general. It follows Lightning McQueen in a completely different role, that of the aging star who is out of touch with the times. It is heartbreaking, it is dramatic and it is compelling. I never knew I could feel so sorry and yet so hopeful for such a has-been.
264 Reviews
Solid conclusion to Cars Trilogy!
pickle-9264226 September 2021
Way better than I expected. After being slightly disappointed by Cars 2, this was a pretty good return to form for the Cars franchise. I thought it definitely could've been much better, though. A lot of the scenes were unneeded and once again, did not have the magic the first one has. But somehow, it still finds its way and manages to be a formidable sequel and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Although, was it really the conclusion? It seems like they could do another, but they just don't make enough money. Hopefully we'll see a fourth that just completely blows people away. Other than that, I don't have much else to say, pretty forgettable but still pretty funny and entertaining.
An improvement over Cars 2
cardsrock25 December 2019
While another sequel to Cars was still not needed, Cars 3 is at least closer to the quality of the original. With more of a focus on Lightning McQueen and his internal struggle, the story has a lot more depth than Cars 2. The story isn't original by any means, but it's told in an interesting way and is a pretty fun watch.
Good Sequel! Better than the Cars 2
Mynameisroman30 September 2018
The first Cars movie was awesome and it jumpstarted a lot of rip-offs tv shows for children. talking cars or talking planes everywhere nowadays... cars was the origin and of course there have been two sequels to that movie. while the first sequel felt forced onto the franchise this one here fits perfectly. a great continuation about how his career would develop over the years. he's not a rookie any more... he's not as fast as he used to be... he needs to find out how to solve this... the hints about where the story goes are subtle and reach the right conclusion in the end. and its feels like this might also be the final movie for the franchise but who knows...
it a solid 7. if you loved the first one you will love this one as well
entertaining, moving, has a good moral for children, and a quantum leap up from Cars 2
Quinoa198415 June 2017
Aside from what should be obvious to most of those who are over the age of 5 - merchandising, merchandising! I can hear Yogurt from Spaceballs say (which this movie does try to sort of, kind of, almost satirize but doesn't quite get there, and I'll get to that later) - I wondered going in why Pixar would make Cars 3. The first Cars, one of those unlikely passion projects for John Lasseter, was fine though not remarkable unless one didn't mind getting their Paul Newman fix (last movie too!) if it meant wading through the "comedy" of Larry the Cable Guy, and the sequel was one of the most mediocre films of the past decade, from anywhere (again, Larry the Cable Guy as the protagonist). But then I thought that this was exactly why it would be interesting to see the movie - what would the Pixar creative team come up on this one. What they came up with was a good movie, no more but no less either.
Aside from a far smaller quotent of scenes with that grating Mater character (I'll get off it now but, really, who really was hungering for more of Mater in their movie theater in 2017?), this is another example like Monsters University where the filmmakers are favoring a strong message over having a simple villain. And, curiously enough, while both movies do feature Nathan Fillion as an almost/would-be antagonist, it's not about that (it can't be coincidence that in both movies he voices the show-off, cocksure figure, right? - actually Armie Hammer is more-so that character here, but nevermind), I suspect that the message was what was key for those in the story room. What could make Lightning McQueen interesting again after all these years? Was he even interesting to begin with? It's not even him so much as it is what a character's arc is, and what Pixar taps in pretty well here is the idea of moving on and what education means.
In the story of Cars 3, McQueen gets into a terrible accident as the first turning point - one remembers that from the surreal teaser trailer where it made it look as though this might be the Saving Private Ryan of Cars movies or something - and though he wants to get back into racing there's constant trepidation, about his age, about his ability, about everyone else out on the track... and then comes, ironically enough, his trainer (thanks sponsor Fillion!), with a good voice job by Cristela Alonzo by the way, who of course didn't grow up as a, uh, small car wanting to become a trainer of other cars, she wanted to be race car herself! But she lacked the confidence and the wherewithal to keep at it (those who can't do teach sort of thing). Matter of fact, that may be the whole point of the movie, but it's also saying that isn't necessarily a bad thing - if you want it, it can be great.
It reminds me too of what happens in other professions like in the movies where actors find they aren't getting the good roles or aren't being challenged enough so they decide to direct, and it takes on a whole new feeling and passion. All of this noted, Cars 3 doesn't exactly make this some big surprise, it's actually a predictable story that, at least for me and I'm sure many others, one will see coming a mile away as far as whether or not Lightning McQueen is going to do that first race (really the only question is how much or how little will he really race before passing on the baton). But Pixar was sneakily impressive here with how it brought real emotion, or as much as can happen with these cars, and Owen Wilson and Alonzo have a good pairing in the film that has an arc and develops over the course of the story.
There's a little shakier ground that Pixar tip-toes up to as far as what it means to have, say, branding and merchandising - the Fillion "Billionaire" car Sterling (I wondered if he had ever wanted to race or as a tiny car wanted to be a, uh, Billionaire car, however they can spend it) looks at Lightning as a vehicle, no pun intended, for money-making, that his admiration for McQueen is for what he is *valued* as a commodity, as a presence or a thing, as opposed to his ability (which goes a way to explain why he's not impressed when he begs Sterling that he can do one more race). But I'm not sure Pixar developed that side of it enough, or perhaps they could only do so much satire in a G-rated movie for all audiences. It may be enough, though a little more could've gone a longer way to make a decent movie into one of their REALLY good sequels like Monsters U or Toy Story 3.
At the end of it all though, Cars 3 is entertaining, occasionally quite funny (some puns and jokes hit better than others), and eschews typical villainy or the usual antagonists and embraces more like existential questions, which is probably more than a kid-friendly blockbuster like Cars 3 of all things had to concern itself with. I give Pixar points for that, and if seems like something that had... effort put into it, at least up to a point. Not to mention, last but not least, what seems to be a fitting coincidence (or it may be just what Lasseter intended) that a first-time director was promoted up to do this movie within Pixar, Brian Fee. It was time to get in the race, I suppose, and he showed up to do well.
Aside from a far smaller quotent of scenes with that grating Mater character (I'll get off it now but, really, who really was hungering for more of Mater in their movie theater in 2017?), this is another example like Monsters University where the filmmakers are favoring a strong message over having a simple villain. And, curiously enough, while both movies do feature Nathan Fillion as an almost/would-be antagonist, it's not about that (it can't be coincidence that in both movies he voices the show-off, cocksure figure, right? - actually Armie Hammer is more-so that character here, but nevermind), I suspect that the message was what was key for those in the story room. What could make Lightning McQueen interesting again after all these years? Was he even interesting to begin with? It's not even him so much as it is what a character's arc is, and what Pixar taps in pretty well here is the idea of moving on and what education means.
In the story of Cars 3, McQueen gets into a terrible accident as the first turning point - one remembers that from the surreal teaser trailer where it made it look as though this might be the Saving Private Ryan of Cars movies or something - and though he wants to get back into racing there's constant trepidation, about his age, about his ability, about everyone else out on the track... and then comes, ironically enough, his trainer (thanks sponsor Fillion!), with a good voice job by Cristela Alonzo by the way, who of course didn't grow up as a, uh, small car wanting to become a trainer of other cars, she wanted to be race car herself! But she lacked the confidence and the wherewithal to keep at it (those who can't do teach sort of thing). Matter of fact, that may be the whole point of the movie, but it's also saying that isn't necessarily a bad thing - if you want it, it can be great.
It reminds me too of what happens in other professions like in the movies where actors find they aren't getting the good roles or aren't being challenged enough so they decide to direct, and it takes on a whole new feeling and passion. All of this noted, Cars 3 doesn't exactly make this some big surprise, it's actually a predictable story that, at least for me and I'm sure many others, one will see coming a mile away as far as whether or not Lightning McQueen is going to do that first race (really the only question is how much or how little will he really race before passing on the baton). But Pixar was sneakily impressive here with how it brought real emotion, or as much as can happen with these cars, and Owen Wilson and Alonzo have a good pairing in the film that has an arc and develops over the course of the story.
There's a little shakier ground that Pixar tip-toes up to as far as what it means to have, say, branding and merchandising - the Fillion "Billionaire" car Sterling (I wondered if he had ever wanted to race or as a tiny car wanted to be a, uh, Billionaire car, however they can spend it) looks at Lightning as a vehicle, no pun intended, for money-making, that his admiration for McQueen is for what he is *valued* as a commodity, as a presence or a thing, as opposed to his ability (which goes a way to explain why he's not impressed when he begs Sterling that he can do one more race). But I'm not sure Pixar developed that side of it enough, or perhaps they could only do so much satire in a G-rated movie for all audiences. It may be enough, though a little more could've gone a longer way to make a decent movie into one of their REALLY good sequels like Monsters U or Toy Story 3.
At the end of it all though, Cars 3 is entertaining, occasionally quite funny (some puns and jokes hit better than others), and eschews typical villainy or the usual antagonists and embraces more like existential questions, which is probably more than a kid-friendly blockbuster like Cars 3 of all things had to concern itself with. I give Pixar points for that, and if seems like something that had... effort put into it, at least up to a point. Not to mention, last but not least, what seems to be a fitting coincidence (or it may be just what Lasseter intended) that a first-time director was promoted up to do this movie within Pixar, Brian Fee. It was time to get in the race, I suppose, and he showed up to do well.
Thats a ending!
nadinethart14 October 2019
It's a Way, Way, Way Better than Cars 2
WasiReviews6 September 2020
If you came out of Cars 2 disappointed you're not alone, the bad spy stuff, the melodramatic plot and the awful characterization. This film is visually fantastic having Lightning McQueen take part in a customary mid life crisis in a racing, mafia and sports movie. This part is a little bit boring but you can ignore it because it becomes an awesome race towards the end. I hope they don't make a fourth it will be a bad reboot featuring a ugly yellow car.
Relax folks, McQueen doesn't die.
omelaphaga17 September 2018
I had to say that since so many people were kept away and buy this one fear. The movie is what I hoped it would be. And yet, ended in such a way that I did not expect and was thankful for at the same time. It is a slow movie, so know that going in. Loved all of it.
"Cars 3": 3rd in Pixar Series Needed Some Fine Tuning
kevinthecritic6 May 2018
2 out of 5 stars (has some good moments, but is overall bad)
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Pixar. They have provided my generation with animated classics finding heart, humor, and emotion in ideas that seem poised to fail. However, Pixar's track record as of late has been very hit-and-miss, alternating between tear-inducing masterpieces like "Inside Out" and serviceable fair like "Brave". Every film studio has a few hiccups, but Pixar used to be the outlier, the company my generation could depend on for grade-A entertainment, and, if anything, allow us now 20-somethings to watch an animated movie and not have to lower our standards "because it's for kids."
"Cars 3" wants desperately to be one of the great Pixar movies: At points it delivers honest truths about the cruel nature of the racing industry and has a great number of laughs, but the film is less than the sum of its parts. For every emotional moment, witty line, or thrilling race sequence, there is a lazy joke or painful bit of writing. The film is caught between being a more realistic dramedy dealing with mature themes, or just settle with entertaining young children (which, in my theater, it completely failed to do). I've definitely seen worse children's films, but "Cars 3" hurt me more because it had promise.
We once again follow Lightening McQueen (Voiced by a bored-sounding Owen Wilson) at the top of his game, with pals Mater (Voiced by Larry the Cable Guy), Sally (Voiced by Bonnie Hunt), and all the other side "caracters" by his side. However, Lightening's racing career is threatened by rising hotshot Jackson Storm (Voiced by Armie Hammer), who causes him to wreck during a big race and take time out to change his game plan at a tech-heavy training center. Unfortunately, Lightening is paired with ultra fangirl Cruz, who is as good at training as I am at Calculus, forcing him to work harder than ever, and possibly realize that he's reached the end of the road.
I have never loved this franchise. "Cars" was fine if unremarkable, and "Cars 2" was total kiddishness. "Cars 3" falls somewhere in the middle, with unexpected drama and moments of poignancy, but also having the overly childish humor. I thoroughly enjoyed the racing sequences in this film, and there are several moments of witty banter that made me laugh out loud, but those elements failed to coalesce into an entertaining whole for me. The film wants to emulate "Toy Story 3", which was more of a dark prison drama than a family comedy, but the difference between the two franchises is that "Toy Story" entertained children AND adults, while "Cars" primarily entertains kids. Kids who loved the first two films in this series will love this one too, but those of us who never understood the appeal of this series will gain very little from this one.
"Cars 3" has occasional funny lines, good racing sequences, and unexpectedly poignant drama, but childish humor once again kills any dramatic weight that could have existed otherwise.
Rated G
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Pixar. They have provided my generation with animated classics finding heart, humor, and emotion in ideas that seem poised to fail. However, Pixar's track record as of late has been very hit-and-miss, alternating between tear-inducing masterpieces like "Inside Out" and serviceable fair like "Brave". Every film studio has a few hiccups, but Pixar used to be the outlier, the company my generation could depend on for grade-A entertainment, and, if anything, allow us now 20-somethings to watch an animated movie and not have to lower our standards "because it's for kids."
"Cars 3" wants desperately to be one of the great Pixar movies: At points it delivers honest truths about the cruel nature of the racing industry and has a great number of laughs, but the film is less than the sum of its parts. For every emotional moment, witty line, or thrilling race sequence, there is a lazy joke or painful bit of writing. The film is caught between being a more realistic dramedy dealing with mature themes, or just settle with entertaining young children (which, in my theater, it completely failed to do). I've definitely seen worse children's films, but "Cars 3" hurt me more because it had promise.
We once again follow Lightening McQueen (Voiced by a bored-sounding Owen Wilson) at the top of his game, with pals Mater (Voiced by Larry the Cable Guy), Sally (Voiced by Bonnie Hunt), and all the other side "caracters" by his side. However, Lightening's racing career is threatened by rising hotshot Jackson Storm (Voiced by Armie Hammer), who causes him to wreck during a big race and take time out to change his game plan at a tech-heavy training center. Unfortunately, Lightening is paired with ultra fangirl Cruz, who is as good at training as I am at Calculus, forcing him to work harder than ever, and possibly realize that he's reached the end of the road.
I have never loved this franchise. "Cars" was fine if unremarkable, and "Cars 2" was total kiddishness. "Cars 3" falls somewhere in the middle, with unexpected drama and moments of poignancy, but also having the overly childish humor. I thoroughly enjoyed the racing sequences in this film, and there are several moments of witty banter that made me laugh out loud, but those elements failed to coalesce into an entertaining whole for me. The film wants to emulate "Toy Story 3", which was more of a dark prison drama than a family comedy, but the difference between the two franchises is that "Toy Story" entertained children AND adults, while "Cars" primarily entertains kids. Kids who loved the first two films in this series will love this one too, but those of us who never understood the appeal of this series will gain very little from this one.
"Cars 3" has occasional funny lines, good racing sequences, and unexpectedly poignant drama, but childish humor once again kills any dramatic weight that could have existed otherwise.
Rated G
Good movie, better than the first I think
realalexrice8 June 2021
I was not expecting this to be this mature, one of Pixar's best opening 15 minutes that sets up the surprisingly compelling comeback story for Lightning. The Cars movies were not really my cup of tea and I'm of the belief that the second one is actually better than the first because of it's utterly ludicrous nature. But, to this movies credit, the racing scenes are gorgeous especially the training sequences. I think the design of the cars has always been pretty ugly, specifically the mouths, but here everything that doesn't have to do with the design of the cars is really fantastic stuff that Pixar should be proud of. I was also surprised about the emotional angle of this movie and how it really snuck up on me, with an emphasis on Doc and how he influenced McQueen, more offscreen of course, the movie is able to balance it's main arc much better. Having not seen a Pixar movie in a while, the brisk pacing was certainly welcome and the writers really did a great job mixing old footage from the first Cars in with "vintage" footage we'd never seen of Doc Hudson and such. It didn't bog down the story and actually added to the weight of it, I felt myself getting a bit emotional at a few points despite not having an emotional connection to the first movie. Finally, it was nice to see Doc and Lightning have a better relationship portrayed than the one they had in the first film, one of the reasons I never really connected to it was because I never felt that Doc actually liked Lightning.
The Weakest Pixar Film to Date,
lesleyharris3028 August 2017
Cars 3 is a decent movie with a reasonably well developed plot and a great voice cast. It certainly has its moments, a pleasure as always to see these lovable characters once again, particularly Lightning McQueen and Mater, who have a terrific back and forth with one another as always. There is also a very sweet, hard hitting message as we see McQueen accepting his fate and realising it is his time to pass on the torch, the final fifteen minutes certainly serves as an effective finale to the series.
I am somewhat heartbroken to be rating a Pixar film below an eight, but the quality of this film is far less than what I have come to expect from this studio. It is a very slow moving ninety minutes that I would imagine would get quite tedious for kids. It tries too hard to remain grounded, but is not gritty enough for that to be effective, it is far too innocent.
It is also rarely funny, I am not saying this in a way that the jokes fall flat, but it actually does not try to be humorous for very long periods. It has a droll, bland tone throughout, an annoying new character and a very small amount of screen time from all the characters who made the original two harmless fun, bar Lightning.
Expected much more from my favourite animation studio. A disappointing conclusion to an enjoyable series, Cars 3 is nothing more than a movie made for merchandising, the kids may love it, but there is very little here for adults.
Lightning McQueen struggles to keep up with a new generation of racers and technology.
I am somewhat heartbroken to be rating a Pixar film below an eight, but the quality of this film is far less than what I have come to expect from this studio. It is a very slow moving ninety minutes that I would imagine would get quite tedious for kids. It tries too hard to remain grounded, but is not gritty enough for that to be effective, it is far too innocent.
It is also rarely funny, I am not saying this in a way that the jokes fall flat, but it actually does not try to be humorous for very long periods. It has a droll, bland tone throughout, an annoying new character and a very small amount of screen time from all the characters who made the original two harmless fun, bar Lightning.
Expected much more from my favourite animation studio. A disappointing conclusion to an enjoyable series, Cars 3 is nothing more than a movie made for merchandising, the kids may love it, but there is very little here for adults.
Lightning McQueen struggles to keep up with a new generation of racers and technology.
A retrospective on a pretty decent animated trilogy
Brandon_Walker_Robinson22 June 2018
**I first wrote this review on 11/15/17 but it never got published. If something seems off or outdated, this is the reason why.**
This film universe is a little weird. I mean really, it is. We all have questions that we never really get many answers to regarding how much we can personify these cars as humans. Apparently they do consume and excrete, they require fuel, and that there aren't humans (I guess they are the humans); I still don't understand the idea of adolescent cars, what their limits are for speed when they're racing (sometimes it seems like Lightning just 'wills' himself to a higher position), how they build stuff, where they come from, why they need seats/doors or if they're even aware of what they are, etc. Perhaps it's best to not overthink it, but this is the first franchise for Pixar where the seemingly off-putting set of protagonists (toys, bugs, monsters, rats, robots) do not really serve a larger purpose for their message, and instead are kind of just... there. You can argue the Route 66 elements are important as well, so I'll give them that as much as anybody else will.
Many audience members are somewhat turned off by the models though, as it's just too weird to think about. I'll say one thing: everybody and their mother suggested Pixar should have used the headlights as the eyes, and their response in Cars 2 was about as punctually adequate as can be. I didn't see a big visual leap in the models from Cars 1 - 3 after a decade of work, but there were some nice little touches that a Blu-ray can help pick up which I have enjoyed the progression in. I did expect a bit more of a graphical upgrade on that front, since the surrounding environments all looked so beautiful and that crash teaser trailer even looked fantastic. But I digress, these animated films are definitely about more than just their animation.
Although the majority do not speak very highly of the Cars franchise in comparison to Pixar's other stellar efforts, people still look back at the first film in higher regard given the simpler message of taking the road less traveled and appreciating the journey every bit as much as the destination, including the people you meet along the way. It was humble and innocent. Though I think people give Pixar too much credit for just that. Other films have done this exact same thing; in fact, there is a film I saw called Finding Normal which I likened to Cars by all of the character connections, though it was made after it so I guess I have to give Cars some credit here. Cars 2 messed this up tremendously for the majority of moviegoers, throwing a Mater spin-off in our faces as we had pretty much a spy flick, with new characters for Pixar to merchandise off-and they would probably admit as much as well. As unfortunate as this was, I was thoroughly entertained by Cars 2. It is not good, but it's also not unenjoyable either. Definitely not up to Pixar's standards, though it still had its own message: accept your friends for who they are and not what you want them to be (I think that's what it was?).
So now Cars 3 comes along, yet here we are still all clamoring for an Incredibles sequel, which thankfully is coming. However, I think John Lasseter wanted to right the ship a little bit. For one, he downright ignored Cars 2 completely. If you didn't see it, you didn't miss a thing. Not a single new character from that film appeared here, no references to what happened as they went world-traveling, nothing. Skipping out on it becomes no loss whatsoever. Secondly, he gave Mater and non-car operated machinery (boats, planes, cranes... you name it) their chance in the limelight in the second film, and stuck to cars only this time around, tossing Mater to the side thank goodness. Lastly, they focused again on Lightning McQueen and the evolution of his character through the time that has gone by, back to true-and-blue circuit racing roots. It was appreciable that they did this, and for the most part I will say it worked very well.
Cars 3 is a sign of the times, both old and new. With the way sports are changing today, this was the perfect time for it to release. The new kinds of technology put in place in this film-from the cars to the training regimens to the statistical analysis-were all thrown in showing what modernists can offer to the traditionalists, possibly even aging them out to retirement. However, for Cars 3 to instill its motto in having some heart to compete, its moral stances on racing didn't get too lost in the dust. It stuck to several roots that Cars established (training in dirt roads, drifting, being one with the road) and clearly paid homage to Rocky III and Rocky Balboa (comeback story of a washed-up veteran, racing on the beach, training montage, calling a car Cal Weathers... seriously?). Not to mention there were a lot of callbacks to how Doc Hudson mentored Lightning, which paid off by the time the credits rolled. I like how both sets of times clashed on this one (and not in a James Bond way like Cars 2), because I think that was the next step up for this franchise to evolve properly. In essence, this was a faithful sequel to the first film. You can argue all you want as to whether it should exist, but since it does I think most can admit they did it properly.
Literally speaking of which, at about the 75-minute mark of this film I literally said out loud, "This film is doing no wrong." I liked what I was watching. There were a couple of strong heartfelt moments, not as strong as Cars but not too bad either. There were some scenes that I could have done without, but at the same time if I ever do buy a 3D version of this they are also the scenes I would want to replay most in that setting. Then with maybe fifteen minutes left to go in the film, they take a left turn. I'll admit it was a bit of a surprise and even somewhat more of a letdown (let me just say that the sign of the times really showed here, and if you saw my little mini-rant in the Family Guy thread then you may be able to guess what I'm talking about) because Pixar just had to be different, or rather just had to be modern. I won't fault them for feeling they needed to do what they did, but let me just say that I have the easiest rewrite in the books that gets us to the exact same place when the credits roll without needing to detour a little bit. I have a slight feeling that if they didn't pull this stunt, the several folks (including critics visible on Rotten Tomatoes) who decided to undersell this film would have evened it out in the end. I don't hate what they did, but they honestly could have done without it. Nevertheless, I'll go with as I said in my previous paragraph: since they did it, I can go ahead and say they also executed it pretty well in the process, because they really could have butchered it.
Call me less a fan of the first Cars film than other people seem to somewhat appreciate it for, a completist for being mildly amused at the second film enough to own it on Blu-ray, and a happy-go-lucky fan of this third Cars film that capped off the trilogy in such a way that, although with a little bump at the very end, was indeed a redeeming chapter of this franchise for what it started with. Pixar easily could have allocated its resources in other films, and it looks like we're getting the payoff now with an Incredibles 2, a Toy Story 4, and four originals (including Coco, where if you blink you might miss the small Easter egg Cars 3 had for it). Sue them for wanting to eek out a little profit here and there, but in a world where the Cars films exist I think it's better off with 3 in the books than if the trilogy-closer did not come to light, even if it means we have to wait a little longer for Pixar to sprinkle out hopefully some more magic in the coming years.
This film universe is a little weird. I mean really, it is. We all have questions that we never really get many answers to regarding how much we can personify these cars as humans. Apparently they do consume and excrete, they require fuel, and that there aren't humans (I guess they are the humans); I still don't understand the idea of adolescent cars, what their limits are for speed when they're racing (sometimes it seems like Lightning just 'wills' himself to a higher position), how they build stuff, where they come from, why they need seats/doors or if they're even aware of what they are, etc. Perhaps it's best to not overthink it, but this is the first franchise for Pixar where the seemingly off-putting set of protagonists (toys, bugs, monsters, rats, robots) do not really serve a larger purpose for their message, and instead are kind of just... there. You can argue the Route 66 elements are important as well, so I'll give them that as much as anybody else will.
Many audience members are somewhat turned off by the models though, as it's just too weird to think about. I'll say one thing: everybody and their mother suggested Pixar should have used the headlights as the eyes, and their response in Cars 2 was about as punctually adequate as can be. I didn't see a big visual leap in the models from Cars 1 - 3 after a decade of work, but there were some nice little touches that a Blu-ray can help pick up which I have enjoyed the progression in. I did expect a bit more of a graphical upgrade on that front, since the surrounding environments all looked so beautiful and that crash teaser trailer even looked fantastic. But I digress, these animated films are definitely about more than just their animation.
Although the majority do not speak very highly of the Cars franchise in comparison to Pixar's other stellar efforts, people still look back at the first film in higher regard given the simpler message of taking the road less traveled and appreciating the journey every bit as much as the destination, including the people you meet along the way. It was humble and innocent. Though I think people give Pixar too much credit for just that. Other films have done this exact same thing; in fact, there is a film I saw called Finding Normal which I likened to Cars by all of the character connections, though it was made after it so I guess I have to give Cars some credit here. Cars 2 messed this up tremendously for the majority of moviegoers, throwing a Mater spin-off in our faces as we had pretty much a spy flick, with new characters for Pixar to merchandise off-and they would probably admit as much as well. As unfortunate as this was, I was thoroughly entertained by Cars 2. It is not good, but it's also not unenjoyable either. Definitely not up to Pixar's standards, though it still had its own message: accept your friends for who they are and not what you want them to be (I think that's what it was?).
So now Cars 3 comes along, yet here we are still all clamoring for an Incredibles sequel, which thankfully is coming. However, I think John Lasseter wanted to right the ship a little bit. For one, he downright ignored Cars 2 completely. If you didn't see it, you didn't miss a thing. Not a single new character from that film appeared here, no references to what happened as they went world-traveling, nothing. Skipping out on it becomes no loss whatsoever. Secondly, he gave Mater and non-car operated machinery (boats, planes, cranes... you name it) their chance in the limelight in the second film, and stuck to cars only this time around, tossing Mater to the side thank goodness. Lastly, they focused again on Lightning McQueen and the evolution of his character through the time that has gone by, back to true-and-blue circuit racing roots. It was appreciable that they did this, and for the most part I will say it worked very well.
Cars 3 is a sign of the times, both old and new. With the way sports are changing today, this was the perfect time for it to release. The new kinds of technology put in place in this film-from the cars to the training regimens to the statistical analysis-were all thrown in showing what modernists can offer to the traditionalists, possibly even aging them out to retirement. However, for Cars 3 to instill its motto in having some heart to compete, its moral stances on racing didn't get too lost in the dust. It stuck to several roots that Cars established (training in dirt roads, drifting, being one with the road) and clearly paid homage to Rocky III and Rocky Balboa (comeback story of a washed-up veteran, racing on the beach, training montage, calling a car Cal Weathers... seriously?). Not to mention there were a lot of callbacks to how Doc Hudson mentored Lightning, which paid off by the time the credits rolled. I like how both sets of times clashed on this one (and not in a James Bond way like Cars 2), because I think that was the next step up for this franchise to evolve properly. In essence, this was a faithful sequel to the first film. You can argue all you want as to whether it should exist, but since it does I think most can admit they did it properly.
Literally speaking of which, at about the 75-minute mark of this film I literally said out loud, "This film is doing no wrong." I liked what I was watching. There were a couple of strong heartfelt moments, not as strong as Cars but not too bad either. There were some scenes that I could have done without, but at the same time if I ever do buy a 3D version of this they are also the scenes I would want to replay most in that setting. Then with maybe fifteen minutes left to go in the film, they take a left turn. I'll admit it was a bit of a surprise and even somewhat more of a letdown (let me just say that the sign of the times really showed here, and if you saw my little mini-rant in the Family Guy thread then you may be able to guess what I'm talking about) because Pixar just had to be different, or rather just had to be modern. I won't fault them for feeling they needed to do what they did, but let me just say that I have the easiest rewrite in the books that gets us to the exact same place when the credits roll without needing to detour a little bit. I have a slight feeling that if they didn't pull this stunt, the several folks (including critics visible on Rotten Tomatoes) who decided to undersell this film would have evened it out in the end. I don't hate what they did, but they honestly could have done without it. Nevertheless, I'll go with as I said in my previous paragraph: since they did it, I can go ahead and say they also executed it pretty well in the process, because they really could have butchered it.
Call me less a fan of the first Cars film than other people seem to somewhat appreciate it for, a completist for being mildly amused at the second film enough to own it on Blu-ray, and a happy-go-lucky fan of this third Cars film that capped off the trilogy in such a way that, although with a little bump at the very end, was indeed a redeeming chapter of this franchise for what it started with. Pixar easily could have allocated its resources in other films, and it looks like we're getting the payoff now with an Incredibles 2, a Toy Story 4, and four originals (including Coco, where if you blink you might miss the small Easter egg Cars 3 had for it). Sue them for wanting to eek out a little profit here and there, but in a world where the Cars films exist I think it's better off with 3 in the books than if the trilogy-closer did not come to light, even if it means we have to wait a little longer for Pixar to sprinkle out hopefully some more magic in the coming years.
Speed with heart
Ramascreen12 June 2017
#Cars3 is speed with heart. It's fun, exciting and emotionally endearing. The first film was about a lost small town USA and the humbling of a cocky racer. The second movie didn't quite know what it wanted to be, part espionage, part mistaken identity, part global tournament, all wrapped up in a poor attempt to address friendship. But this third installment is about the racer becoming the mentor while at the same time honoring the legacy of a very important person in McQueen's life, Hudson Hornet, who's voiced by the the late great actor whom we cinema deeply miss seeing on screen, Paul Newman.
In "Cars 3," Lightning McQueen suddenly finds himself blindsided by a new generation of blazing fast racers. He's seeing himself and his fellow race mates forced to retirement. Refusing to be told when he should call it quit, McQueen is determined to get back in the game, acquiring the help of a new sponsor and a young trainer who's secretly wanting to be a racer. But all that only brings McQueen to the doorstep of his own inspiration, the late fabulous Hudson Hornet. This enlightenment will prove once again whether or not Lightning McQueen still has what it takes to be a champion.
It's obvious from "Cars 3" that Pixar had learned the lessons of their mistake or blunder that was "Cars 2." The story in "Cars 3" is more coherent, clear and straightforward and it goes back to Pixar's strongest strategy which is to appeal to our deepest emotions. It doesn't necessarily rehash the first film, but more of presenting our hero deciding for himself to take on the next chapter of life that is just as fully rewarding as beating his opponents on the race track, which I think is a well put progression in McQueen's evolution as a character.
I think you'll be wowed at the film's excellent effort in pulling parallels between Hudson Hornet's experience and what McQueen is going through. It's like every piece fits into its place naturally, like it's meant to be. The new rival, Jackson Storm makes the cocky McQueen in the first film look tame. You don't see much of Mater this time around, but that's actually not a bad thing. You'll love some of the new racing tricks that "Cars 3" has up its sleeves, I'm entertained by them and I'm not even a Nascar fan. And the rookie/trainer who secretly wants to race, Cruz Ramirez will surprise you at every corner, that one is like a an eager young prodigy whose skills are just waiting to be discovered given the right opportunity. The themes basically ask the inevitable questions of what we all should do when we get older and are no longer able to do some of the things we love, what would be the the options then. And so I think "Cars 3" does an excellent job of letting you know that if you've reached the point of success, we should then do our part to now guide, train, teach others to reach their point of success too. Don't burn the bridge behind you.
-- Rama's Screen --
In "Cars 3," Lightning McQueen suddenly finds himself blindsided by a new generation of blazing fast racers. He's seeing himself and his fellow race mates forced to retirement. Refusing to be told when he should call it quit, McQueen is determined to get back in the game, acquiring the help of a new sponsor and a young trainer who's secretly wanting to be a racer. But all that only brings McQueen to the doorstep of his own inspiration, the late fabulous Hudson Hornet. This enlightenment will prove once again whether or not Lightning McQueen still has what it takes to be a champion.
It's obvious from "Cars 3" that Pixar had learned the lessons of their mistake or blunder that was "Cars 2." The story in "Cars 3" is more coherent, clear and straightforward and it goes back to Pixar's strongest strategy which is to appeal to our deepest emotions. It doesn't necessarily rehash the first film, but more of presenting our hero deciding for himself to take on the next chapter of life that is just as fully rewarding as beating his opponents on the race track, which I think is a well put progression in McQueen's evolution as a character.
I think you'll be wowed at the film's excellent effort in pulling parallels between Hudson Hornet's experience and what McQueen is going through. It's like every piece fits into its place naturally, like it's meant to be. The new rival, Jackson Storm makes the cocky McQueen in the first film look tame. You don't see much of Mater this time around, but that's actually not a bad thing. You'll love some of the new racing tricks that "Cars 3" has up its sleeves, I'm entertained by them and I'm not even a Nascar fan. And the rookie/trainer who secretly wants to race, Cruz Ramirez will surprise you at every corner, that one is like a an eager young prodigy whose skills are just waiting to be discovered given the right opportunity. The themes basically ask the inevitable questions of what we all should do when we get older and are no longer able to do some of the things we love, what would be the the options then. And so I think "Cars 3" does an excellent job of letting you know that if you've reached the point of success, we should then do our part to now guide, train, teach others to reach their point of success too. Don't burn the bridge behind you.
-- Rama's Screen --
The Real Sequel.
aciessi7 August 2020
Forget Cars 2 ever happened. This is a fitful sequel to end the franchise. The story of a hot shot at the end of his career and the future that awaits him. This is all about Lightening McQueen. It's a much better story. His trainer and protégée, Cruise, made for a pretty nice touch, and pleasantly voiced by Cristina Alonzo. It's still Cars, but it's no disaster.
It's not wonderful, but it sure is good!
prietoheitor24 January 2020
Cars 3 is a great movie in the Cars trilogy and perhaps by far the best, with fun moments and a plot that is functional enough to entertain the family, although it is not impressive, but manages to please by delivering what is necessary to close the trilogy.
Faithful sequel!
nataliabatsko18 August 2022
As you may know, the previous sequel was acting more like a Mater spin-off, but this one is closer to the first movie. In fact, if you never watched 2, then your not missing out on anything, surprisingly, this wasn't directed by Lasseter, who worked on the first 2, instead it's Brian Fee.
The plot is on the more cliche side then the second one, which was unpredictable. Basically McQueen isn't as fast as he was in the past, because new electro cars join the game, and they have innonative technology. Everyone tells Lightning to quit racing and retire, but he insisted that it's his personal decision when he's done. He trains himself with a new character Cruz Ramirez. Honestly, the chemistry between the two was interesting. It has a generation gap that was best described as a young cheerful fan and a mature racer. Both have something to learn from each other, which makes them have flaws, thus making them believable. I also liked the flashbacks to the first movie with Doc. They added more depth to already inspiring story. Sure, it was more predictable, and sometimes felt generic, it was still well executed. It had more race scenes, to be more specific, they happened on a beach, on a derby with monster cars, and obviously, grand prix. These scenes were exciting! And it felt more like a sports film then the previous 2. The backgrounds felt immersive, especially on high speed. The new character designs were nice! Especially the neon colors on the electro ones and the horns on the monster cars.
I've also noticed that it ignores everything that the second built up. So, no spies, no eco fuel, not a single mention of what happened before. Which could be good or bad depending on each viewer. In fact, Mater has only a few scenes, perhaps, even less than in the first movie. Sure, I felt bad for him, since I liked him in the prequels. But since not a lot of people liked the sequel, it didn't hurt the threequel a lot. Perhaps, it was more faithful to the original, by having the same tone, and a moral about teamwork, rather than being just a mindless blockbuster. Cruz Ramirez felt like a very relatable character, who wanted to make her dream of being on the race track come true, she was sadly mistreated by others due to her trainer status. McQueen is the soon to be retired racer who doesn't want to give up and rather continue his job, despite of himself being too weak compared to the new generation. Seeing him in a new role as a mentor that realises that he's maybe too old to do the same stunts like in the past was an interesting take for the directors. The proprotagonist also deals with new problems along the way. And I'm glad that the creators are putting focus on him again. Speaking of him, his voice acting by Owen Wilson was improved and he actually sounded great. Not perfect, but he doesn't sound tired anymore, which is so good in my opinion. It looks like he took up some voice acting lessons before working on it. As for Jackson Storm, he's the rival rookie, that seems to be very mean to others, especially Cruz. He wasn't very special in my opinion, other than just being futuristic. There was also Sterling, the avid fan who wants to milk Lightning to sell merchandise and Miss Fritters, the crazy school bus who likes derby racing and seems to enjoy kicking others a lot. One last thing I'd like to mention is that both Chick Hicks and King returned for this film, which was also a great comeback from the original. I can't say much about the rest, still, the characters felt believable.
I'd say that if you want a great sequel to Cars, then this should be the perfect movie for you. The story was more predictable, but it was still a good movie with inspiring ideas, likeable characters, great animation and being closer to the first movie. Not a must watch, but still a good choice. I liked it to be honest. Sure, I still prefer the original, but this one is interesting too. Recommended for the fans of the first movie and people of all ages who enjoy racing and inspiring stories!
The plot is on the more cliche side then the second one, which was unpredictable. Basically McQueen isn't as fast as he was in the past, because new electro cars join the game, and they have innonative technology. Everyone tells Lightning to quit racing and retire, but he insisted that it's his personal decision when he's done. He trains himself with a new character Cruz Ramirez. Honestly, the chemistry between the two was interesting. It has a generation gap that was best described as a young cheerful fan and a mature racer. Both have something to learn from each other, which makes them have flaws, thus making them believable. I also liked the flashbacks to the first movie with Doc. They added more depth to already inspiring story. Sure, it was more predictable, and sometimes felt generic, it was still well executed. It had more race scenes, to be more specific, they happened on a beach, on a derby with monster cars, and obviously, grand prix. These scenes were exciting! And it felt more like a sports film then the previous 2. The backgrounds felt immersive, especially on high speed. The new character designs were nice! Especially the neon colors on the electro ones and the horns on the monster cars.
I've also noticed that it ignores everything that the second built up. So, no spies, no eco fuel, not a single mention of what happened before. Which could be good or bad depending on each viewer. In fact, Mater has only a few scenes, perhaps, even less than in the first movie. Sure, I felt bad for him, since I liked him in the prequels. But since not a lot of people liked the sequel, it didn't hurt the threequel a lot. Perhaps, it was more faithful to the original, by having the same tone, and a moral about teamwork, rather than being just a mindless blockbuster. Cruz Ramirez felt like a very relatable character, who wanted to make her dream of being on the race track come true, she was sadly mistreated by others due to her trainer status. McQueen is the soon to be retired racer who doesn't want to give up and rather continue his job, despite of himself being too weak compared to the new generation. Seeing him in a new role as a mentor that realises that he's maybe too old to do the same stunts like in the past was an interesting take for the directors. The proprotagonist also deals with new problems along the way. And I'm glad that the creators are putting focus on him again. Speaking of him, his voice acting by Owen Wilson was improved and he actually sounded great. Not perfect, but he doesn't sound tired anymore, which is so good in my opinion. It looks like he took up some voice acting lessons before working on it. As for Jackson Storm, he's the rival rookie, that seems to be very mean to others, especially Cruz. He wasn't very special in my opinion, other than just being futuristic. There was also Sterling, the avid fan who wants to milk Lightning to sell merchandise and Miss Fritters, the crazy school bus who likes derby racing and seems to enjoy kicking others a lot. One last thing I'd like to mention is that both Chick Hicks and King returned for this film, which was also a great comeback from the original. I can't say much about the rest, still, the characters felt believable.
I'd say that if you want a great sequel to Cars, then this should be the perfect movie for you. The story was more predictable, but it was still a good movie with inspiring ideas, likeable characters, great animation and being closer to the first movie. Not a must watch, but still a good choice. I liked it to be honest. Sure, I still prefer the original, but this one is interesting too. Recommended for the fans of the first movie and people of all ages who enjoy racing and inspiring stories!
Fastest
MB-reviewer18513 August 2020
Awesome
loganstarkiller-3762820 July 2017
Cars 3 is probably just as good as the first one. Way better than Cars 2! It is really emotional. It has some good laughs! The story is amazing! The characters are great. I liked the new trainer Cruz Rameriez's character. We get some older cars and new younger generations like Jackson Storm. Good Ending (NO SPOILERS I PROMISE!). If you really like Cars 1, you're gonna love Cars 3!
(6.8/10) Definitely better than Cars 2, but not as good as the original
b-singh23 November 2021
After the disastrous trainwreck known as Cars 2, I didn't really have any hope for this movie, but I was happy to hear that they were going back to the racing side of Cars. Cars 3 is the finale of the Cars series and it does tie up the franchise in a positive way, but it's not perfect. Some scenes do drag on for too long, the jokes don't land all the time and I'm still quite confused as to how Smokey (Doc Hudson's trainer) outlived Doc, but aside from that, the movie is good and it's nice to see that Pixar decided to end the series on a high note. If you like the first Cars movie and wanted to see how it's story continues, I'd recommend watching Cars 3.
Everything you hoped for and didn't get in Cars 2
SmashandNasty14 June 2017
They realized that when they make a movie just so they can continue to merchandise the brand, people will probably be angry. Well, it took them a few movies to realize it (Cars 2, Planes, Planes 2), but that's right, folks, Cars 3 wasn't a horrible, plot-less, mess of an excuse for a toy commercial. Instead it was heartfelt, eclectic, smart, and finally delivered the sequel that Cars deserved, just a few years and a total flop later.
What made the original Cars great was the fact that it managed to easily weave interesting and likable characters within a plot that was equal parts "hot-shot popular athlete learns a lesson" and "remembering Main Street U.S.A in its glory days." Cars 3 triumphed in similar regard. Lightning McQueen is back and knocked down again, there's same eclectic look back at the past (with great shots of US highways scenes that make you want to take a road trip), and all the old characters you love being utilized properly (yes, we are still salty that Mater got his own sequel because he cannot carry a movie on his own). Add that to the subtly feminist plot-line (be prepared for boycotts), intriguing and well- written new characters, a whole lot of heart-string tugging and you've got the movie we all wished we could've seen when Cars 2 came out.
It's far from perfect. There are some issues with the story line and at sometimes it was so slow we were bored (and obviously so were some of the children in the audience based on the noise and commotion). The narrative starts at a very high point and then takes a few dips and dives as it rolls along, but thankfully makes it's way out of those potholes quickly and grabs your attention back just as quickly as it lost it.
The soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired with no more road-tripping, car driving, top down tunes left after the first (though the score of this film is far superior and samples from not only the original, but also other Pixar outings, which is fabulous). It's predictable, but it's also a Disney movie so that's not completely off-the-wall. It was good for a sequel, especially knowing that it could've been another disaster, they've learned their lessons well.
What made the original Cars great was the fact that it managed to easily weave interesting and likable characters within a plot that was equal parts "hot-shot popular athlete learns a lesson" and "remembering Main Street U.S.A in its glory days." Cars 3 triumphed in similar regard. Lightning McQueen is back and knocked down again, there's same eclectic look back at the past (with great shots of US highways scenes that make you want to take a road trip), and all the old characters you love being utilized properly (yes, we are still salty that Mater got his own sequel because he cannot carry a movie on his own). Add that to the subtly feminist plot-line (be prepared for boycotts), intriguing and well- written new characters, a whole lot of heart-string tugging and you've got the movie we all wished we could've seen when Cars 2 came out.
It's far from perfect. There are some issues with the story line and at sometimes it was so slow we were bored (and obviously so were some of the children in the audience based on the noise and commotion). The narrative starts at a very high point and then takes a few dips and dives as it rolls along, but thankfully makes it's way out of those potholes quickly and grabs your attention back just as quickly as it lost it.
The soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired with no more road-tripping, car driving, top down tunes left after the first (though the score of this film is far superior and samples from not only the original, but also other Pixar outings, which is fabulous). It's predictable, but it's also a Disney movie so that's not completely off-the-wall. It was good for a sequel, especially knowing that it could've been another disaster, they've learned their lessons well.
A great installment to an iffy franchise
EnemyPavement21 July 2019
I saw Cars 3 in the theaters with a group of adults without ever seeing Cars 2. The film holds up as a sequel to the first movie. I recently rewatched all three movies and in all honesty, you really don't need to watch Cars 2.
If you're seeing these movies for the first time, skip Cars 2 and go straight to Cars 3. You won't be confused with what's going on. Cars 2 is such an offshoot from the first film It's like a bizarre fever dream that never needed to happen.
Cars 3 takes the franchise back to its roots thematically, structurally, and aesthetically. And while its not as good as the original film, its miles better than the second film.
The movie really puts Lightning McQueen in the shoes of his mentor Doc Hudson as Lightning, now an older car, finds himself getting passed by younger vehicles and gets into a crash that almost ruins his career. Its a surprisingly touching story.
Its not Shakespeare, and no one should expect it to be. But it goes above and beyond its expectations as the third installment to one of Pixar's weaker franchises.
If you're seeing these movies for the first time, skip Cars 2 and go straight to Cars 3. You won't be confused with what's going on. Cars 2 is such an offshoot from the first film It's like a bizarre fever dream that never needed to happen.
Cars 3 takes the franchise back to its roots thematically, structurally, and aesthetically. And while its not as good as the original film, its miles better than the second film.
The movie really puts Lightning McQueen in the shoes of his mentor Doc Hudson as Lightning, now an older car, finds himself getting passed by younger vehicles and gets into a crash that almost ruins his career. Its a surprisingly touching story.
Its not Shakespeare, and no one should expect it to be. But it goes above and beyond its expectations as the third installment to one of Pixar's weaker franchises.
The creativity tank runs dry
estreet-eva20 February 2018
In retrospect an animated movie about anthropromorphized vehicles maybe never really had any long-term prospects but still surprising to see how quickly the series ran out of gas. By the second installment the characters already played the "let's go to Europe" card. By number 3 our hero - Lightning McQueen - (get it, his name is a reference to actor / racer Steve McQueen, aren't Easter eggs fun!) gets replaced. Maybe Thewestchestarian missed something but the plot features "2.0" (it actually says it on Jackson Storm's paint job) racers replacing McQueen's generation (which is what he did in the first film - aren't callbacks fun!). Yet the car/human hybrid, McQueen passes his baton to seems to also be a first generation car? Unwisely, this installment ventures into math which is the natural enemy of pathos. Storm cruises at 207MPH with gusts up to 214MPH but our heroine Cruz (get it? "Cruz" like in "cruising" in a car - aren't puns fun?!) tops out at 193 during training. So how is she keeping up?
Anyway, the plot not making a lot of sense and the abundant overuse of references, puns, and callbacks is not actually important. Pixar made it's name through snappy dialog (see anything Mike says in Monsters, Inc.), powerful emotional moments (see first vignette in Up), and sheer artistry (see all of Wall-E). Cars 3 just delivers little of the first 2 and the, perhaps unfairly, moviegoers have grown accustomed to the art in the Cars universe after two previous outings.
In short, kind of a meh outing but at least they kept Daniel Lawrence Whitney's Larry the Cable Guy in check in this one.
Am massive Improvement after It's awful predecessor
Gibson-H17 May 2022
"Cars 3" Is directed by "Brian Fee".
It stars Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Armie Hammer, Paul Newman and Nathan Fillion.
In the third film of the famous "Pixar' trilogy, racer "Lighting McQueen" Is starting to struggle racing when new advanced cars start stealing the spotlight. Desperate to get back to winning, "McQueen" finds a trainer who Is determined to get "McQueen" back to his best.
I know this Is a random review but I never even knew this film existed until today. I love "Pixar" but I don't like the "Cars" films. The first film Is good but the second Is In my opinion "Pixar's" worst movie. But "Car's 3" was a pleasant surprise as I really liked this film.
The positives
This film does what It can In fixing the mess the second film caused. "Lighting McQueen" Is back In the spotlight and It's refreshing. I love his arc about getting old and knowing he can still be Involved with racing despite his age. It's was a great way to end his story. His trainer "Cruz Ramirez" Is a great character with a compelling backstory and motivation. The way she ends the film was perfect and emotional. All the voice acting Is perfect. Everyone has great chemistry, especially "Owen Wilson" and "Cristela Alonzo. The animation Is gorgeous as always. It's amazing how some things look super realistic animated. The music adds more heart to the emotional scenes which I admit did make me cry. The film also pretends "Cars 2' never happened. It's for the best. The film fixes the bad and confusing world building In the second film. It also makes "Mater" a side character and I like him In the film. As the comedic relief he works well and he feels like a real friend to "McQueen". Finally, this film has a story that living "Cars" could relate too. The problem with the first two films Is that there's no need for the characters to be cars. But this film changes that by writing a story that a car could relate to.
The negatives
The big problem with the film Is that there's so many pointless characters just there for merchandising. Every "Pixar" film has characters there for merchandising. But they don't overdo It, apart from the "Cars" trilogy. Some useless characters get "Emotional" goodbyes but It doesn't affect me as I have no connection to them. The film also Isn't that funny. I think I laughed around three times and they all came from "Mater". Finally, I think that some of the Important characters are seriously underused. "Sally" Is "McQueen's" girlfriend. She does nothing, apart from one confidence boosting scene. Why don't you use her. She could be another sort of guiding compass. It just feels disappointing that she doesn't do anything.
Conclusion
Overall, I like "Cars 3". It does have an overload of characters, bad comedy and Important character's that are underused. But It's compelling story and characters, beautiful animation, emotional scenes, great music and the willingness to forget It's terrible sequel make this film a satisfying way to end a flawed trilogy.
I'm going to give "Cars 3" a:
7/10.
It stars Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Armie Hammer, Paul Newman and Nathan Fillion.
In the third film of the famous "Pixar' trilogy, racer "Lighting McQueen" Is starting to struggle racing when new advanced cars start stealing the spotlight. Desperate to get back to winning, "McQueen" finds a trainer who Is determined to get "McQueen" back to his best.
I know this Is a random review but I never even knew this film existed until today. I love "Pixar" but I don't like the "Cars" films. The first film Is good but the second Is In my opinion "Pixar's" worst movie. But "Car's 3" was a pleasant surprise as I really liked this film.
The positives
This film does what It can In fixing the mess the second film caused. "Lighting McQueen" Is back In the spotlight and It's refreshing. I love his arc about getting old and knowing he can still be Involved with racing despite his age. It's was a great way to end his story. His trainer "Cruz Ramirez" Is a great character with a compelling backstory and motivation. The way she ends the film was perfect and emotional. All the voice acting Is perfect. Everyone has great chemistry, especially "Owen Wilson" and "Cristela Alonzo. The animation Is gorgeous as always. It's amazing how some things look super realistic animated. The music adds more heart to the emotional scenes which I admit did make me cry. The film also pretends "Cars 2' never happened. It's for the best. The film fixes the bad and confusing world building In the second film. It also makes "Mater" a side character and I like him In the film. As the comedic relief he works well and he feels like a real friend to "McQueen". Finally, this film has a story that living "Cars" could relate too. The problem with the first two films Is that there's no need for the characters to be cars. But this film changes that by writing a story that a car could relate to.
The negatives
The big problem with the film Is that there's so many pointless characters just there for merchandising. Every "Pixar" film has characters there for merchandising. But they don't overdo It, apart from the "Cars" trilogy. Some useless characters get "Emotional" goodbyes but It doesn't affect me as I have no connection to them. The film also Isn't that funny. I think I laughed around three times and they all came from "Mater". Finally, I think that some of the Important characters are seriously underused. "Sally" Is "McQueen's" girlfriend. She does nothing, apart from one confidence boosting scene. Why don't you use her. She could be another sort of guiding compass. It just feels disappointing that she doesn't do anything.
Conclusion
Overall, I like "Cars 3". It does have an overload of characters, bad comedy and Important character's that are underused. But It's compelling story and characters, beautiful animation, emotional scenes, great music and the willingness to forget It's terrible sequel make this film a satisfying way to end a flawed trilogy.
I'm going to give "Cars 3" a:
7/10.
Meh
dp-1727526 February 2019
Probably the best Cars movie in the entire series, and that doesn't say much. Cars 1 was alright, Cars 2 was a disaster. This series has been quite inconsistent but it brings it back to its roots. Little focus on Mater and more on Lightning McQueen since he is a more interesting character. The music is alright, the visuals are amazing, which judging by the shot of the poster, the director is obviously a visual type director. Seeing Lightning McQueen take on the mentor role feels of-putting given the little focus he got in the previous film, but it's done right in this film. Lightning isn't a mentor the whole time until the last half hour of the movie. Overall the story is fine, not bad, not good, the characters are the same characters, the new characters are fine. Okay movie, your kids will like it, and if you're a die hard fan of the Cars series than you might too. An okay movie with an unsatisfying conclusion.
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