'Cars 3' Review: Lightning McQueen's existential crisis becomes textbook 'feel good' movie

Movie - Cars 3

Director - Brian Fee 

Cast - Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Armie Hammer, Chris Cooper, Nathan Fillion, Larry the Cable Guy, Karry Washington, Paul Newman, Lewis Hamilton

What's it about - 

The shining red speedster, Lightning McQueen, is on top of the fame bell curve when we see him for the first time in the third instalment of the Disney-Pixar franchise. He is pally with his rivals, has a good rapport with his sponsors and merry friends, girlfriend back at Radiator Springs. One day, a rookie sensation, a concept McQueen is too familiar with, Jackson Storm beats him at his game by using cutting edge technology and inbuilt cunning brain.

McQueen now has to get back in the game. He misses his deceased mentor Doc Hudson. But Doc's memories inspire him to beat his opponents, naysayers around him and bid goodbye to the game on his own terms. On this journey, McQueen meets Cruz Ramirez, a race car trainer and an ardent fan of Lightning McQueen. The duo gets together for the red revver's quest of getting his mojo back and end up finding their true purpose in life, respectively.

What's good - 

It's an inspiring story of reinventing yourself to live the life on your terms. It is also a story about respecting the learning process, the mentors that help you through it, and then passing on the baton when the time is right. Director Brian Fee's movie is an open love letter to Paul Newman and his character Doc Hudson aka The Fabulous Hudson Hornet. Doc keeps making flashback entries, dream sequence appearances, becomes a motivational voice in McQueen's head. The other mentor-student relationship, between McQueen and Ramirez, keeps you rooting for them to emerge as a pair of winners. They are like sparring partners, interchanging the mentor and the mentee role as the need be.

Animation and colours popping through the frames are spectacular and true to the Pixar tradition. Dialogues like the following ones are gems - 
1. Lightning McQueen: Life is a 'beach.' And then you drive.
2. Cruz Ramirez: The 'beach' ate me.
3. Cruz Ramirez to McQueen: I am so excited to train you. I like a challenge. I call you, my senior project.

What's not - 

Cars 3 takes time developing the McQueen-Ramirez story arc. But it does not allow enough space for Jackson Storm to come out as a true villain. He does come from behind to take over the racing circuit, a sweet talking smarmpot. But to a practical viewer, he will come across as a racer trying to be his best and win every race. Very much like McQueen in his early days or Doc Hudson before him. Disney-Pixar's by-the-book story forgets the textbook villain characteristics. 

It also does a bit of injustice to Ramirez with respect to deepening the self-doubt of a girl racing car in the world of all-male speedsters. So when the girl-power message comes with an amazing twist in the end, it lacks the punch to bedazzle everyone. 

What's that -

Make sure you are in your seat before the movie starts. You do not want to miss the Pixar short, Lou. It's an adorable story of a creature, Lou, living in a Lost & Found box of a school. Lou decides to teach JJ, a bully, a lesson and that ensures some carefully crafted hijinks.

Also, pay close attention to Ramirez's AI assistant Hamilton. Current Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton returns to voice the personal assistant after being part of Cars 2 in 2011.

What to do - 

It's a movie made for the fans of the franchise. Carefully packaged to give the feeling of satisfaction but nothing more. Spending 109 minutes to smile is not a great price to pay. Go for it.

Rating - ***