Cars 2

Oh noes! The world's ending! Pixar's finally made a stinker! It's called Cars 2, the sequel to the film once regarded as Pixar's biggest stinker! And it has run out of gas at the starting gate! At least, that's what professional critics have made it out to be. By Jethro's point-of-view, it's still a fun day at the races.

Everyone remembers Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), the rookie race car whose exploits were told in the first film. Well, Lightning's taken a pit stop and allowed his tow truck buddy, Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) to take the spotlight.

In Tokyo to help Lightning with a worldwide race, Mater bumps into super-spy Torque Redline (Bruce Campbell). Torque's supposed to meet with his British counterpart, Finn McMissile (Michael Caine), but it's Mater who accidentally takes his place. The agents have discovered a plot by a gang of lemon cars to discredit a new alternative fuel and they need Mater to help stop them. That's all fine with Mater, until he realizes how his antics have gotten to everybody, especially Lightning.

Available in both 3D and Flatscreen formats, the film still gives you a wild ride even without 3D. The film's action scenes, especially the racing scenes, are well edited and animated. They're so fun that they'll easily keep one's attention off their watch and on to the screen. Now only if some other action movies can learn from them.

Amongst the new characters to the cast, the best one is the Italian F-1 Francesco Bernoulli (John Turturro). He maybe a jerk, but he's a jerk in an entertaining way. Fillmore the Bus (Lloyd Sherr, replacing the late George Carlin) makes for the best of the returning supporting characters. The rest of the old cast also have their good moments, even if they don't speak.

Whereas last year's Toy Story 3's story stuck with its audience for a long while, Cars 2's story sticks with its audience for the afternoon. But at least the old car's still working, and that's important. Besides, with a new hilarious short staring the Toy Story characters, it's got something that makes it worthwhile for that afternoon.