The Cast of “Cars”
Copyright 2006 Disney / Pixar
Now before I delve into my review of this film, let me offer a few hints to make your viewing almost perfect:
- Do not leave the theater when the end credits begin to roll. Some of the folks (Okay, movie critics) that I watched a preview of this film with did. And they missed some of the funniest things on the screen – especially for fans of Pixar’s previous offerings. We’re not talking simple out-takes or bloopers. This is “do-not-miss” stuff. So just don’t! There are gags right up to the last frame of the credits too.
- You will need to see this film a few times just to catch all of the gags and hidden (or not-so-hidden) goodies. Even fans of Steve Job’s other enterprise, Apple Computer, will want to keep an eye peeled for a bit of product placement. And if you can catch “Cars” at a theater that features digital projection, by all means, do so!
- Car fans of all ages and interests will find something to enjoy. Not only do NASCAR racing fans get their moments, Indy and Formula 1 racing fans will too. We’re talking Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, Jay Leno, Mario Andretti and Michael Schumacher – all in cameo roles here.
- This is the longest Pixar film to date. By the time you have sat through a showing of “One Man Band” and “Cars,” almost two hours will have passed. In other words, do yourself a favor and skip the bladder-buster soda from the concession stand. I didn’t find time to make an exit for a bathroom break anywhere in this one.
- My spies tell me that Warner Brothers have added a brand new trailer for DNA Productions’ “Ant Bully” (opening July 28th) to those being shown ahead of “Cars.”
So, on with the review …
Like many Pixar films, “Cars” has a central character placed into an unfamiliar situation. And much like those other characters, Lightning McQueen will have lessons to learn along his way. Also like those other films, this character will meet others who will help him see the error of his ways. Call it formulaic, if you will. But I found it was a story filled with laughs as well as lessons. As well as something to interest all of the members of the audience.
As for the rest of the cast of characters, they also share traits with some of their predecessors. Again, not a bad thing. But some time, I do hope that — on some future project — that the story breaks out and has a cast that does more than have a hero in crisis, a wise old-timer, a love interest and a comic sidekick. (Okay. So that formula worked for all of Roy Rogers’ films. But that was how many decades ago?) And the town of Radiator Springs manages to have all of those characters and more, just like any small town along Route 66 does.
The voices cast for the film get a B+ in my opinion. While I felt that some of them were spot on (Such as Paul Newman as Doc Hudson), I wish that a bit more effort had been given to looking for new or newer voices. There are a lot of voices out there that would have been just as good or better than some of those retreads from previous films. And I really wished that they could have chosen someone for the voice of Lightning McQueen who sounded more like a NASCAR driver. More of a North Carolina kind of voice would have been all the better as a rookie racecar on the big circuit.
Richard Petty as the voice of The King (right)
was a great choice to honor the legacy of NASCAR drivers
Copyright 2006 Disney / Pixar
Larry the Cable Guy as Mater the tow truck is the one really bright element of voice casting. With as many tow truck drivers as I have talked with over the years, his voice just sounds right to me. Maybe it is all those odd hours on the road that has something to do with that?
Mater indeed understands “Get R Done!”
Copyright 2006 Disney / Pixar
Now, as far as John Ratzenberger goes … Okay, enough. The gag is done. Played out. Someone hand him his retirement papers from doing any voices for Pixar films. Please. It has almost reached the point where it’s not funny any more.
But if what they say about Pixar is true (I.E. That “the story is king” at that studio) … Then shouldn’t Pixar’s goal be to give its stories a new perspective? And to do that … Well, that means new character types too. I mean, creating characters that audiences can identify with is obviously important. But giving us something new to identify with should not be a challenge that goes unanswered either.
Okay. Enough with criticizing “Cars” story & vocal casting. As for the film’s art direction … Audiences are not in for any disappointments here. Having had my own visits to both a big NASCAR racetrack and some of the towns along Route 66 this last April, I was greatly impressed by the level of detail brought to the screen. Everything from that blue haze of the afternoon sunlight off of the mountains to the intimate points of detail of the many small town features makes a difference to the stage set for this tale to unfold for us in the theaters. As seen in “Art of Cars” book, those research trips along Route 66 definitely paid big dividends in the finished product.
Views from along Route 66 in New Mexico
Photos by Roger Colton
Comparing the real to the created …
Flo’s V8 Café in Radiator Springs
Copyright 2006 Disney / Pixar
I have to give credit to everyone who worked to make the characters of “Cars” and the world they inhabit believable. Taking something big and inanimate as a car and making it move in a way that appears human was no easy task. Done clumsily or without thought, it could have made the characters less convincing. But the opposite is the case with this outing as audiences will have no trouble accepting this vehicular world as plausible. Luckily we aren’t asked to make any big leaps to suspend our collective disbeliefs.
As for the soundtrack, it makes great use of contemporary and vintage music. One very funny scene in particular owes the mood to the choice of a song; one I strongly doubt finds its way onto the sound system of the cars that inspired this scene.
But more Randy Newman? Again, I wish that someone else had been able to give a bit more of an automotive flair to the score for this film. It just sounded a bit too much like the scores that Newman had produced for previous Pixar projects for my tastes.
Randy Newman (left) & John Lasseter (right)
put the finishing touches on the film’s soundtrack
Copyright 2006 Disney / Pixar
In the end? Yes, I enjoyed Pixar’s latest film and I think that you will as well. All of my reservations to the contrary, “Cars” really is a winner. In this world of instant gratification where you don’t even have to get out of your car for everything from coffee to banking to matrimony, we all can heed the simple message of “Slow down” that this film has to share.
After all, the journey is the reward, isn’t it?
Next week: Roger returns to his regular “Ruminations” slot with a look at the characters of “Cars” as they become reasonably priced collectibles.