Cars DVD Review
Cars hit movie screens two summers back and it revved its way to the top of the box office with a
two-piston punch of typically charming Pixar story-telling and a heaping helping of automotive adoration.
The DVD of the film roars during the race scenes, yet retains its quiet soul and simple lessons, even on a small screen at home. In case you missed it on the big screen, the story is simple: Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is a hotshot racer in the famed Piston Cup. . . .
Lightning gets waylaid in picturesque Radiator Springs after photo-finishing the big race with rival Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton) and famed racing legend “The King” (real-life racer Richard Petty). Before you can say “Doc Hollywood” the young hotshot finds out there’s more to life than the pursuit of <i>speed</i>, sometimes its okay to go “low and slow” and enjoy the scenery. Learning wisdom from Doc (Paul Newman), friendship from Mater (voiced by comedian Larry the Cable Guy), and romance from a sweet little small-town lawyer Porsche named Sally (Bonnie Hunt), Lightning’s journey from hotshot to complete person (er… car) makes for high-octane family entertainment.
Kid Factor: The racing scenes are intense for kids under three, and there’s some crashing and bashing. There’s a very scary personified Combine that threatens the good guys briefly. No cars get too banged up (crashes happen, but there’s no pain and suffering) and the humor is in no way offensive or inappropriate.
DVD Notes: Cars hits DVD in a stripped-down-but-still-worth-it edition. The usually exhaustive documentary features are limited to short documentaries about how the movie was made and how Director John Lasseter took his team on a long drive down Route 66 before writing the film. It’s fascinating to learn how a story like this comes about. Also on the DVD are commentaries, deleted scenes (most are in storyboard or pencil sketch form), and two fantastic short CGI cartoons from Pixar. “One Man Band” played before the film in theaters and is charming, and “Mater and the Ghost Light” is almost funny enough to deserve its own disc.
It’s disappointing to see the usually comprehensive documentaries missing from this disc and we wonder if this means a higher-horsepower Collector’s Edition is on its way. Regardless, the film is fantastic family fun and, I tell you what, it’s a must-have for car crazy boys and girls.
<b>GamerDad’s Take:</b> Lo! And did John Lasseter from on high deliver at the perfect moment the perfect film for my car-obsessed son! Has the film stood up to hundreds of viewings since, getting more charming with each viewing. Are there Car toys – McQueens, Docs, Sallys, Maters – in all shapes and sizes underfoot at all times.
This is a wonderful film for kids of all ages. If you have a car nut in your home, buy it.
April 5th, 2008 at 5:14 am
Cars is a favorite at out house and I love seeing it as well. Henry is a total “Cars” fan. It has a sweet message and is just fun. We end up getting him replacement “Cars” because he plays so hard with the toys. I am so glad that he had this to play with as a kid. He just woke up and showed me his new Lightning and Chick cars…It’s great.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
This is one of the best movies, animated or not, to come out in the past couple of years! I’m sure there are plenty of people with different opinions, but it’s very much like another animated favorite, Shrek: It has action and humor for every kid (in fact, quite a bit more kid-friendly humor than Shrek) and a story to keep almost any adult attuned. My youngest 3 boys (2, 3, 7) have watched it hundreds of times, of course, but most of the rest of the family (even my 15-year old daughter ) have watched it scores of times! I’ve even heard my girls asking for it when the boys weren’t even around (back when it first came out).
We’ve had it since it first came out and have bought and played for hours with some of the toys that go along with it, so it’s mostly the youngest and I who really enjoy it now, but it’s really standing the test of time better than any other movie short of Monty Python or Princess Bride!
Mater and the Ghost Light definitely deserves its own DVD, and I would highly recommend going out and buying the kids golden book of the same title. It really makes both more enjoyable when they read it and watch it!
GREAT MOVIE!