Disney/Pixar's Cars on DVD

With blockbuster hits like Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., and A Bug's Life under their belt, the Disney PIXAR collaboration have proven themselves to be major players within the film industry. With their state of the art animation, PIXAR has quite literally revolutionized the concept of the family film. Their newest endeavor, Cars, can be added to the list of successes as it too has cemented its place in animated movie history.

The story of Cars centers on Lightning McQueen (Wilson), a young brash racecar and his quest to become the first rookie to win the Piston Cup. Standing in his way is the aging star The King voiced by NASCAR legend Richard Petty and the perennial runner-up Chick Hicks (Keaton). In the final race of the season these three racecars finish in a tie. The only way to decide who will take home the Piston Cup is too have the three cars go head to head in a winner take all race.

Realizing this is his big chance to snag the Piston Cup, the best sponsors, and all the glory Lightning McQueen jumps at the opportunity. With his early success having gone to his head, McQueen is a cocky unlikable character at first. He isolates himself feeling he owes nobody anything and that he can accomplish his goals all alone. That is until something funny happens on the way to the big race.

While being transported to Piston Cup finals, McQueen gets lost in the middle of nowhere, and ends up destroying a patch of road that cuts through Radiator Springs a town so small it no longer appears on any maps. Once a hotspot on Route 66, Radiator Springs is now barely an afterthought as it was bypassed by a highway system in order to save ten minutes travel time.

After being ordered to community service, McQueen is forced to stay in Radiator Springs for five days so he can fix the road. Here he meets a cast of wacky characters including an old tow truck, Mater, voiced by Blue Collar Comedian Larry the Cable Guy, Doc (Newman) who McQueen later finds out was a famous racecar as well, and Sally (Hunt) who helps McQueen learn the error of his ways.

With the help of the residents of Radiator Springs, McQueen learns the value of friendship and responsibility. He makes it to the final race where he also learns the valuable lesson that sometimes winning is not everything. Alls well that ends well, as McQueen uses his new found fame to help save Radiator Springs by setting up his official headquarters in the town thus making it a hot tourist spot once again.

Director John Lasseter, who has helmed several PIXAR projects including Toy Story and A Bug's Life, should be commended for his attention to detail. A race enthusiast himself, Lasseter shows his love of the sport by making sure the characters in his movie are as close to real racecars as he can get them. His ability to include the sights and sounds of not just the cars but the whole racing atmosphere is an added bonus to the viewing experience.

Another gift PIXAR seems to have is its ability to cast the perfect voices for the characters they create. The actors selected for Cars are no different. Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy are perfect in their respective roles. Paul Newman as the voice of Doc was a brilliant choice as well. The use of actual race car drives like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Michael Schumacher as voiceover cameos also adds a nice sense of realism to the film.

The only real complaint I had with this DVD is the lack of original special features. The animated short One Man Band, along with the Epilogue feature were part of movie release in theaters. There is a new short with the DVD entitled Mater and the Ghostlights that is entertaining. The best of the bonus material is a featurette, "Inspiration for Cars", which chronicles a trip the movie's creators took along the old Route 66. A set of four deleted scenes rounds out the DVD extras.

The Disney PIXAR partnership has produced some of the best animated movies in recent memory. Their newest project, Cars, is another in a growing list of blockbuster hits. With a great story, superb attention to detail, and group of actors expertly cast in their roles, Cars is a highly entertaining and all around fun family movie. Though the DVD is light on special features, the movie itself more than makes up for this. Cars on DVD is a must have film that is fun for all ages whether they are race fans or not.

Cars

Starring the voices of: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Michael Keaton and Tony Shalhoub

Produced by: Darla K. Anderson & Thomas Porter

Directed by: John Lasseter
Disney PIXAR
Rated G