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(out of 5)

While the story doesn’t reach the brilliance of Toy Story or Monsters, Inc., this animated film from the multi-talents at Pixar is among their most beautiful, and manages some poignant moments that make it more than just a spectacle. Anthropomorphically charismatic cars with individual personalities populate the story, one of the more ridiculous concepts that animated films have reached for in order to entertain the kids, though give the film enough time and eventually its in-jokes and cute voice work will win you over (a little). Owen Wilson is hilarious as the star of the show, a self-centred race car named Lightning McQueen who thinks his fame will last forever and he’ll never need anyone but himself to get ahead in life. When his MAC truck escort accidentally abandons him on the highway and he tears up a dusty little town’s road in his mania to get back to civilization, McQueen finds himself strapped with a court order to fix the little hamlet’s pavement before he’s allowed to leave and make it to his big race on time. While there he finds himself befriending the local quirks and charmers, all familiar supporting stereotypes from the other Pixar films that, yet again, somehow manage to make it feel familiar but fun. It’s no classic, but it is solid, the kids will love it and you won’t feel too bad for watching it either.

Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

USA, 2006

Directed by John Lasseter, Joe Ranft

Original story by John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Jorgen Klubien, Screenplay by Dan Fogelman, John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin, Jorgen Klubien, additional screenplay material by Bonnie Hunt, Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson, Don Lake, Steve Purcell, Dan Scanlon

Cinematography by Jeremy Lasky

Produced by Darla K. Anderson

Music by Randy Newman

Production Design by William Cone, Bob Pauley

Film Editing by Ken Schretzmann

Academy Awards:  2006

Golden Globe Awards:  2006