Cars - movie review

As a devoted fan of Pixar for many years, even I was surprised by my lack of interest in seeing Cars when it finally rolled into theatres. I think my trepidation was built on the back of a fear that maybe, finally, Pixar had missed the mark. There was no initial evidence to suggest this other than the need for the company's winning streak to end. And I was worried that this might be the loser. This might be the film that just didn't cut it. And I was right.

Cars opens fabulously. In a bright, atonishing racing flash the movie takes off with every invitation to greatness. And by the time the race is complete the film is mired in cliche where it remains stalled. The story is one we have ALL seen before - the city slicker is reformed after a turn with the hicks. In fact it is Doc Hollywood almost verbatim - right down to the red car and the a mentor named Doc. ut this should not have been a problem. Pixar has been excellent in the past of taking well-worn concepts and giving them new life. But with this pass it is completely out of gas in this department.

But Cars is a National Geographic experience of digital landscape. The backgrounds are AWESOME - in the true sense of that word. There are skies that go on forever. Winding roads in tree-filled sunlight. Darkness illuminated with city lights. If you have ever been on the road then you have seen the vistas captured in Cars and will be unable to deny their realism on the screen. Add some amazing details and references and this vehicle's paint job almost hides the flaws under the hood. But it doesn't take long to be reminded that the story of these Cars goes nowhere fast.