Name of the Film: Cars (2006, John Lasseter and Joe Ranft)
Okay, so we all know Pixar make great movies. Fabulous movies. When someone says '3D Animation' people instantly think of their creations - Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo. Well ... add one to the top of that list.
The story is simple enough; racecar living life in the fast lane pulls over momentarily, and realises what he's been missing. Sounds cliched, and it is - but it's given the Pixar special treatment, and that's what makes it so special. It's more or less bristling with brilliance.
Probably the first thing you'll notice after Luxo Jr. has vanished is the astoninishing visuals. Literally every scene is packed with detail. From the opening action sequence, to the lush, picturesque landscapes of Route 66 to the interior of Lightning McQueen's trailer, so much detail has been thrown into the mix that it's hard to take all in. And it's all animated in such a way that it's believable, whilst at the same time being completely surreal. Simply put, this is Pixar's finest visual achievement, and putting all it's predecessors to shame, and then some.
Wait ... I can read your mind ... 'Yeah, it may look good, but is it funny?' The answer is yes. Very yes. The comedy is little short of genius, once again pulling off the perfect mix of silly, childish humour - which you'll still probably laugh out loud at, whether you're 8 or 80 - with knowing nods to the adult audience - 'I'm going to the Piston Cup!' 'You did WHAT?!?'. The movie is also capped off by a fantastic set of 'during credits' reels that pay tribute to 25 years of Pixar; and also a brilliantly amusing poke at John Ratzenberger. Make sure that you do stay until these have finished, you won't regret it.
Talking of John Ratzenberger; the voice cast are all fantastic. Even without them, the movie would have been funny, but they push it over into outright hilarious. From Larry the Cable Guy's Mater - a rusted old hillbilly tow-truck - to George Carlin's Filmore - a hippy VW van who sells 'organic fuel' - every single actor puts their hearts into their roles, and it pays off; it amplifies the comedy, and it's part of the reason why the visuals are so believable.
There are, however, a few problems. Owen Wilson perhaps isn't quite up to scratch with the rest of the cast, and his Lightning McQueen doesn't feel nearly as cool or original as, say, Toy Story's Woody, or even Shrek. Also, being a kids movie, it's expected to deliver a message, and the main message of Cars - being that life is about the journey, not the destination - is perhaps slightly too subtle for the younger or stupider amongst us. Still, no movie is perfect, and Cars' pros certainly outweight its cons.
On the whole, I honestly can't see why anyone would miss Cars. If you enjoyed Pixar's previous work, you will love this. And even if you didn't, there's something for every movie goer in this film - staggering visuals, a touching story, and even some things for boy/girl-racers to pick up on. This is Pixar firing on all cylinders.
Rating out of 10: 8