Whenever I review an animated film, I invariably compare it to the near-infallible Disney-Pixar dream team, which produces box office gold (usually over the summer) like clockwork. Despite undeniable talent in bringing virtual words to life and several lucrative character licenses, Disney-Pixar has been reluctant to produce sequels…outside the now-legendary Toy Story series. As a huge fan of both Ratatouille and The Incredibles, I admit to being a little disappointed when it was first announced that the studio’s newest offering would be a sequel to Cars. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Cars as much as the next Disney fanatic, but I would have much rather seen Remy or Frozone return to the screen ahead of Lightning McQueen. Even with my undoubted faith in Disney-Pixar, I couldn’t fully ignore the sub-par early reaction for Cars 2, which was quickly gaining notoriety as the studio’s worst reviewed film to date.
In retrospect, I cannot imagine why critics have been so harsh with Cars 2, because I believe that this sequel actually surpassed its popular predecessor. Granted, it may lack some of the heart and deep emotion that tugged at the heart strings so strongly in Up and Toy Story 3, but it is far from Disney-Pixar’s most disappointing entry…Wall-E still has a firm grasp on that dubious title. As far as animated films go, Cars 2 is surprisingly exciting and fun, going to great lengths to entertain audiences with detailed animation and clever humor. The story may have been a little generic and had some unnecessary political overtones, but in stepping up the scale of the Cars universe beyond Radiator Springs, filmmakers could have easily skimped on other simple details; luckily, the end result was still impressively awe-inspiring. If you’re looking forward to another Toy Story 3, your expectations are clearly far too high; instead, simply sit back and enjoy the lighthearted and action-packed adventure offered by Cars 2 that appeals to the imagination of audiences, both young and old.
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Overall Recommendation: High
