Starring: Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer
Plot: Hot rod Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is talked into taking part in the World Grand Prix in Britain, Japan and Italy by his tow-truck friend, Mater (Larry The Cable Guy). As well as trying to win the races, the red speedster becomes embroiled in the world of espionage when he’s mistaken for an American spy. Cue gadgets, car chases and lots of sleek, sexy polished bodywork.
TM Rating: It’s a Pixar movie so audiences can settle back in their comfy cinema chairs safe in the knowledge that they’re going to enjoy slick animation and at least a half decent script.
Cars wasn’t the most successful of the Pixar movies – there’s something about brightly coloured talking auto-mobiles that places it firmly in the toddlers age group ““ but the first film still raked in $462 million, making it sequel worthy. This time out the chunky roadsters enter the world of spies circa 1960s Bond. There’s even a gadget rich Aston Martin voiced by Michael Caine to give older viewers a knowing wink about what genre Cars 2 is affectionately parodying.
A plot that involves mistaken identities and a race to find a ‘special’ camera whose electro-magnetic pulse can obliterate cars as they tear around the track offers plenty of scope for cool Pixar visuals, jokes galore and amusing cameos (look out for Lewis Hamilton). Ultimately, however, the only moving up a gear here refers to what’s happening on the tracks and not Pixars” continuing raising of the bar as far as witty scripts combined with dazzling animation is concerned. Cars 2 is good fun but it doesn’t come anywhere near the heady heights of the Toy Story series.
7/10 ““ Cars 2 is good looking enough to grace the windows of a luxury car showroom, but what lies beneath the bonnet is maybe a bit less impressive. The children will enjoy it but adults may find their attention straying from the road ahead. A bizarre screening time isn’t exactly target audience friendly.
Screening Times: 21.50pm daily
Tickets: €6.50 Buy YourTickets Here
