The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : An enjoyable ride

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 06, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

An enjoyable ride

Cars (English)

It is a common enough sentiment, the longing for the good old days when neighbours were neighbourly, politicians were good and noble and everything cost next to nothing. Which is why it's surprising that Pixar's latest animation feature Cars manages to carry off such an outworn idea fairly well. The film begins with the cocky but brilliant rookie racer Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) almost winning the Piston Cup, the most respected racing trophy. Due to a three-way tie at the finish, however, the three cars must race again in California to determine the winner. On the way to California, the arrogant rookie gets lost and ends up in a town called Radiator Springs, once a hub of activity on Route 66. He's trapped here till he can fix the town's main road, which he ripped apart. He struggles through the job, rebelling first and then learning to fit into the small town, meeting a father figure in Doc Hudson a.k.a. the Hudson Hornet (Paul Newman), who was one of the greatest racers of his time.

He also meets the girl, a Porsche called Sally (Bonnie Hunt), who's left the big city life for love of the quiet back ways. The plot line is somewhat too simplistic, but what carry the film through are its nuances. Unlike more recent ventures from the animation studios, this film doesn't try to beat the audience over the head with its take on life. Sure, there is plenty of sermonising, but all of that is well interspersed with generous doses of genuinely funny lines. Rakesh Mehar

Rakesh Mehar

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