*This review will contain spoilers for Cars 3
Some of you may know by now that I enjoyed the first cars movie, even enough that I placed in the number 10 slot on my Top 10 PIXAR Films list. The same could not be said for the sequel, which tried to change character focuses and genres, resulting in an overly complicated film, one that is arguably the worst film PIXAR has released to date.
Because of this, I was rather concerned when I heard the announcement of Cars 3. I was worried that the film would be one of two things: 1. a re-skin of the original film in order to regain support for the franchise, or 2. something completely different from the last two films, in another bold change that would wreck the franchise even more.
Boy was I wrong...
While the film does return to the basic story of Lightning McQueen trying to win the big race, it changes the tone and morals in an alarmingly deep direction.
Let me explain...
When McQueen wrecks at the beginning of the film, he ultimately makes a recovery, but faces the same challenges Doc Hudson alludes to in the first film: the owners say he's too old to race, and that he should retire (The owner being Sterling, the new owner of Rust-eeze, whom I will talk about in more depth later). McQueen makes a deal with Sterling: let McQueen race the opener of the season. If he wins the race, he will be allowed to say when he is done racing; If not, he will retire and sell merchandise.
Naturally, this leads McQueen down a path of self-discovery and personal growth, but not in the same way the film did it. In this film, it's not an award McQueen is chasing, but the right to do what he is passionate about until he chooses to change course, what he says is the "reward" of racing.
It is for this passion that he is driven, and ultimately has the "dark moment" in the film, when he chews out his trainer. While this moment mainly exists to cause contrast in regards to the end of the film, it doesn't feel forced. If I had only one review that I could write, and if it failed to generate income, I would give up the blog, I would be cross when somebody interrupted the work as well.
While I won't spoil the full ending, there are a few major themes in this film that are shown in their entirety in the finale of the film. These ideas are prominent enough for an adult to fully understand the complexity of the issues, while simplified enough that a younger child can understand it as well. These issues range from the "why we do what we do" aspect of career choices, traditional stereotypes in the workplace, and the biggest idea: What are you willing to fight for.
A lot of these issues are shown in the new owner, Sterling. This is the perfect character to exemplify prejudice and superiority complexes to children... and why they are unacceptable. This character is an ageist and a sexist in the world of Cars, and serves as the "villain" of the film. His desire for money and success blinds him to the realities of a changing world. And, in this regard, he is written perfectly. I genuinely hated this car, especially at the end, as his disrespectful nature was truly shown.
There was one interesting change in this film, and it's one I think genuinely needs to be addressed: Mater. The film almost has little to no genuine inclusion of him. While I agree with this to a degree, it felt like an over-correction in regard to his overwhelming presence in Cars 2. I would have liked to see a justification for why he isn't joining McQueen on this journey, even if it meant he was on a spy mission or something, rather than just sitting at home for no real reason other than to make an occasional joke.
Overall, I found this film to be a pleasant and emotional journey. I will say this for PIXAR, they know how to make a brilliant ending for trilogies. At the end of 2017, I will be releasing an updated list of my Top 10 PIXAR Films, and this may very well bump Cars from the bubble position.
A fantastic final lap for McQueen... and another brilliant piece of cinema for PIXAR.
Those are my thoughts on Cars 3. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments below, and click here for other reviews you may like.
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