Cars Review

Pixar return with for their first outing since the Oscar-winning "The Incredibles", but is this automotive experience as good as its peers(which include the likes of "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo")?

The action centres on arrogant racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson), a turbo-charged hotrod for whom winning the Piston Cup in his rookie season is everything. However an unexpected detour finds him in the small town of Radiator Springs, where he's made to work off his debt to society after accidentally destroying the road. Desperate to get to California for the final race of the season, Lightning wants to get the job done and get out - but perhaps a week in the town, with its eclectic bunch of good hearted residents, is just what this young stock car needs.

Given that just about every other Pixar movie has dealt with much easier characters (toys, bugs, humans etc.), there was always potential for trouble in trying to bring such 'fixed' vehicles to life, but fortunately director John Lasseter and his team have created a series of fun and expressive characters. The standout has to be Mater (voiced by Larry The Cable Guy), a rusty old tow truck who takes Lightning under his wing, teaching him some small town values, and taking him tractor tipping in easily the funniest segment of the movie. And let's not forget the likes of Paul Newman's grumpy Hudson Hornet, Bonnie Hunt's young and sexy Porsche, and George Carlin's spaced out VW camper van.

As we'd expect the animation is flawless, and the racing scenes in particular will take your breath away. However the film does teeter towards becoming too sweet and cuddly at times, and anyone who remembers the Michael J Fox comedy "Doc Hollywood" will be more than familiar with the plot. "Cars" then may not be Pixar's finest hour - but its still head and shoulders above anything its competitors have to offer this summer.