by Tim Webb

Created on: January 04, 2011   Last Updated: January 05, 2011

Imagine a world where there are no human beings and all the world's population in all the countries and continents are cars or vehicles of some form that all have their own personality. Well, once you get over that concept then you have a rather enjoyable film that took me completely by surprise. The film is produced by Pixar, who have previously delivered the Toy Story trilogy and The Incredibles have again given a multi level film that the kids will enjoy and the adults will cherish given the humour and the extremely impressive high quality that has been presented.

The plot is a good one, Lightning McQueen is a rookie race car, having just been in a three-way tie means that a race off has to take place a week later to decide the overall winner of the Piston Cup. To get to the track on time means that an overnight journey of driving across country has to take place and en route to California McQueen literally falls off the back of the lorry thanks to a gang of cars (that look like that have just been lifted from The Fast and The Furious). The gang play gentle soothing Michael J Fox film Doc Hollywood, in fact the plot, the actions and the ending are the same. However the different thing is that this is a lot more enjoyable to watch given the lengths the writers have gone to get this film made and to inject a lot of humour that doesn’t detract from the story.

Given the writing and the general feel good feel of the film it has to be said that the voice artists that take part in the film have added that extra dimension that makes the characters of the animation come to life that little bit more. I’m not a great fan of Owen Wilson as I personally think that he is a one trick pony in the majority of his films and plays the same characters throughout. Thankfully here we don’t get to see him and just hear him instead; he plays Lightning McQueen an enthusiastic, arrogant yet energetic young contender for the Piston Cup, and whilst being trapped in Radiator Springs has the epiphany that he discovers just who he is and what he has to offer others around him. Wilson plays the part well and doesn’t necessarily over play the part at all. Wilson comes into his own when McQueen is competing as you hear the voice change.

Sadly, this was Paul Newman’s last film before he passed away and the role that Newman plays of Doc Hudson is integral for the evolution of McQueen. To be honest, I didn’t even recognise it was Newman till half way through

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