Cars (2006)

Director: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft
Starring: Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman

Synopsis:
A hotshot racecar gets stranded in a backwater town where he is sentenced to community service.

Impressions:
I'll be honest. When this movie came out, I thought Pixar was sticking it to Disney to end their relationship. (This was the last film under Pixar's original arrangement with Disney, before the merger of the two companies.) You know, basically their Springtime for Hitler. It would seem I was wrong. I won't deny the kid appeal and the cash cow status of this film and the franchise it spawned. That doesn't mean I like the movie. I mean, it's just Doc Hollywood with anthropomorphic cars. Being a Pixar film, it's technically competent, but you expect a certain standard of quality in terms of character and story and this film really doesn't deliver. I'll grant a measure of personal bias, but I'd also like to see anyone present a serious defense of this film against most of Pixar's other works. Now, it's because I'm acknowledging my bias that I'm rating it higher than what my gut tells me. Take it or leave it. You may see the appeal and you may decide the comparative disappointment isn't worth experiencing.

Rating:
50/50