Cars 2

Pixar decided to release a sequel to Cars in 2011, aptly named Cars 2. Directed by John Lasseter, most of the original VA’s came back, with Lloyd Sherr replacing George Carlin and Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, John Turturro, Eddie Izard, Thomas Kretschmann, Joe Mantegna, and Bruce Campbell joining the cast. While it grossed $599.9 million and ranked No. 1 on its opening weekend, it was received negatively and was the first Pixar film to not be nominated for an Oscar. It was nominated for the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to Rango.

Oil Baron turned electric vehicle, Sir Miles Axlerod (Izzard) has introduced a clean alternative fuel and promotes it by sponsoring the first ever World Grand Prix. Piston Cup winner Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is one of the finalists and brings along his friends as his pit crew, along with Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) as a first time member.

Cars 2 is what happens when you take the weakest aspect of a film, decide to try and try to build a sequel around it. The original film was all about a racecar learning how to take life slowly, smell the roses and learns some humility. This takes Mater and turns him into a secret agent, while putting the race on the backburner. And while there are a few generally funny moments, the inanity of the plot, along with the very unsubtle environmental message makes for a very weak film. WALL-E had an environmental message, but it was more or less subtle.

And the two spy characters quite obviously fail as spies. Honestly, a big part of the job is to be aware of surroundings. But they can’t do that if they won’t listen to someone they think is their partner. So many times in this film does Mater try to tell the two of them that he’s not really a spy, but they continue to chalk it up to him keeping his cover. There’s only so many times someone can fail to understand what their being told.

Cars wasn’t one of Pixar’s best films, but it utilized the sledgehammer for its message rather well. This, on the other hand, didn’t and was completely unwarranted.

#104, barreling across the Edge of Dissatisfaction.