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Having read both reviews, I'm not that fussed about Roger's grumpy pants. I'll still be there as soon as I can get off work. I'd call those both some seriously positive reviews, and I'm more excited than I was before.

Roger, I think your concerns are dead on: they are concerns that I had before seeing the movie, in fact. But I'll reserve judgement until I see the movie tonight before deciding how damaging the formula cast is. After all, I had decided both Randy Newman's music and John Ratzenberger's voice sounded the same in everything. Then I really learned of Randy's huge and diverse resume in things I'd seen but would never have guessed, and having to look for John's name in the credits of Incredibles before realizing where he was.

I just came back from seeing "Cars", and #1, it was awesome, and #2, I wanted more Randy Newman.  To each his/her own!  And, I don't think Roger's a Mr. Grumpypants.  It was a positive review!

Well, I just got back from seeing it, and...it's not one of Pixar's best IMO. It has a terrific beginning, but it just drags drags drags in the middle. Its theme - stop and smell the roses - doesn't ring true because the best parts of the movie are on the race track! I was frankly disappointed. Too bad...

i also just came back from CARS.
I liked the pacing alot, I thought it was well suited to its story and theme, which I found to be extremely mature and rather beautiful.
the sensitive moment (when the porsche girl car - what was her name?- is telling lightning about how the town was irrevocably damaged by the interstate) was very touching, nearly acheiving the admittedly impossible to top- jessie left in the box at the salvation army pick up- moment in TOY STORY 2 for sheer heartbreakedness.
leave john ratzenberger alone! i think its nice that he has a little side career going, and i appreciate pixars loyalty in using him.
end credits=WONDERFUL!
tony shaloub- WONDERFUL!
paul newman - WONDERFUL!
larry the cable guy - WONDERFUL (which suprised me cause i usually cant stand him)
All in all, an excellent B string pixar film (along with BUGS LIFE and MONSTERS INC.)
Not as instant a classic, maybe (as i consider the a string pixar films to be TOY STORY, TOY STORY 2, FINDING NEMO, INCREDIBLES) but certainly better than the current crop of competitors cgi crap coming out these days!

Thanks for the comments folks!

I saw it again tonight with a real crowd of fans. Even found a few more goodies such as the Apple race car, appropriately #84.

And thanks to everyone who actually read my thoughts on the film.

A minor correction. It's not grumpy pants... They're the cranky pants.

"I don't care who you are. That's funny!" Mater

I saw it last night with my girlfriend at a drive in. How appropriate was that?

I really enjoyed the film. I personally thought this was Newman's best score. The music that played during McQueen and Sally's drive was just beautiful (reminded me a Soarin' in some ways). And I would be very dissappointed to suddenly not have Ratzenberger in a Pixar film. It's lasted this long. I don't see it as a joke really, but as Pixar calls it a  "good luck charm." So far, it seems to be working. I'll definitely try to see this film again soon. Now that I saw it on a drive in movie screen, I'm dying to see it in digital.

Also, the movie may seem even better to me considering the film they showed after it at the drive in was The Shaggy Dog. Anything would look good compared to that.

Amazing! I do not understand how Pixar keeps doing it! It is unevitable, I think this film is going to stomp Over the Hedge, I see Dreamworks has been putting out commercials everywhere for "Hedge" like crazy. But guess what! When I got to my local movie theater, I just smiled, as I saw the line. The line, went straight, then curved, and went on for some 100 ft. It took us 20 minutes to get our advance tickets for "Cars." I will tell you this much, Pixar has done it! Another Big Hit! It should have no difficulty passing the 70 million dollar mark. I guess we'll know by tomorrow! I'm so excited!

Both Cars and Hedge are two of my favorites of the summer thus far.  Both had me laughing so hard I was crying.  Especially Cars during the end credits and the effects of a Red Bull on a Squirrel in Hedge.  As far as the fun stuff in Cars: Mater's whole backwards driving thing was a hoot and and Guido was an unexpected treat.  Sure Rog, I can understand why you think Ratzenberger has become overplayed, but for me, it's seeing how they usen him in the movie is what makes the Pixar flicks all the more fun.  Besides, he's become somewhat of a lucky charm for Pixar.  It doesn't matter what part he's in, it's a welcome thing to have him in the movie at some point.  
"BEHOLD THE UNDERMINER!!!  I AM BENEATH YOU BUT NOTHING IS BENEATH ME!!!"  

Nice review, for the most part.  I disagree on two points.  First, what's the big deal with Ratzenberger.  Without him, the end credits wouldn't have been half as funny.  Also, I have no problem with Owen Wilson doing the voice of the lead instead of some Carolina voice.  To make such a suggestion gives the impression that you don't pay much attention to NASCAR.  It's not just a Southern sport anymore.  Drivers are from all over.  In fact, it's quite possible that they patterned McQueen after Jeff Gordon, who was born in California and grew up in Indianapolis.  Definitely not a "North Carolina kind of voice".

Larry the Cable guy is only in this film because the great Jim Varney passed away.  Period.

Yeah, he's good here, but he tracked his hillbilly hate comedy mud into Pix/Dis, which I must say is not worth his performance.

Ratzenberg is a made man.  He cannot be questioned.  His performance is always funny, never seems like a forced issue, and I don't see him as a celebrity voice (ala Brcue Willis).  He's a great faceless voice.  Is it a problem Sterling Holloway always sounds like Sterling Holloway?  Of course not.  This is a ridiculous argument.