How 'Cars 3' Will Reclaim the Series' Legacy
In of Pixar films, the first "Cars 3" such an exciting proposition.
A few weeks ago, I went up to Pixar and watched about half of the movie, all told, and was utterly charmed with what I saw. Based on what I saw, "Cars 3" is a true return-to-form for the series and does a lot to remind you just how special the original film was.
It's pretty cute.
And the connection to the first film is pretty awesome. If you saw "Cars 2," you know that it refashioned the original's slow-down-and-enjoy-the-simplicities-of-life narrative as a high-octane spy adventure. It was audacious, for sure, and remains one of the most beautiful-looking Pixar movies ever, but it lost the sweetness of the original and traded that film's laid back, Miyazaki-indebted charm for something frenzied and frantic and somewhat overwhelming. Also, it made goofball tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) the central focus instead of Lightning. It was ... bizarre.
And if the footage I saw up at Pixar is any indication, the third film almost completely ignores the events of the second film. There's no mention of the European and Asian races depicted in that film, none of the characters have returned, and Mater is barely in it. Seriously, the hillbilly tow truck probably said 10 words in the almost hour's worth of footage I saw. And this film is primarily set in Radiator Springs, the Route 66 oasis introduced in the first film. (Sadly, the sunny epilogue of the first film, which saw tourists and visitors return to the sleepy hamlet, isn't a part of "Cars 3.") So, if you never saw "Paul Newman, via the help of audio outtakes from the first film), the dynamo he was. It's all about going back to reclaim the fundamentals. And like the film's jab at the abundance of merchandise spun off from these films, it's a very knowing, winking look at the franchise. Instead of going above and beyond and introducing all sorts of spy movies shenanigans, it's about peeling all of that stuff away and focusing on what made the original film so charming and engaging.
Technologically and visually though, this is hardly a step back. The footage we saw was amazing-looking; there was a tactile quality to the images that made everything feel lived-in and real. It's like they took the photo-realistic breakthroughs of "The Good Dinosaur" and applied it to something more outwardly cartoony. The result is the "Cars" world we know and love but given a heightened sense of detail and depth. Instead of the glistening metropolises of the previous film, "Cars 3" is all about naturalism. There's also a sequence where Lightning and Cruz are racing along the beach that is just breathtaking. Another sequence has Lighting entering a demolition derby incognito, his trademark logo covered up with globs of mud. You never think about the technology while watching these scenes, about the physics engines whirring away to make sure everything looks just right, but you do know that it looks beautiful and the added layers of detail, atmosphere, and texture go a long way in firmly placing you in that world.
And maybe that's the biggest takeaway from the footage we saw -- how good it feels to be back in the "Cars" world. That's huge. The first film, as sweet as it is, isn't seen as a high mark in the Pixar canon -- and the sequel didn't do it any favors. But "Cars 3" seems like a fine return to form and possibly even better than the original. The story seems like the perfect blend of the old and the new -- both nostalgic and forward-thinking -- and the animation style is the same, with returning characters updated with a fresh coat of computer-generated paint.
Quite frankly, I can't wait to see the rest of the movie and watch McQueen reclaim his former glory. It's a great metaphor for the "Cars" franchise, really. See you in Radiator Springs.
"Cars 3" opens on June 16th.

Cars 3
