Cars (2006)

Pixar Animation is an amazing film company. Let's take a quick look at their successful films:

• Toy Story
• A Bug's Life
• Toy Story 2
• Monsters, Inc.
• Finding Nemo
• The Incredibles

All of those movies have one critical component... excellent writing. I have always been amazed at how wonderfully inventive and three-dimensional (no pun intended) Pixar's screenplays are written. I think part of the reason for such writing success is that an animation project is in process for a longer time than live action films, so as good ideas come along they have the time to implement them and/or try things out. The end result is that the characters are always unique, especially the peripheral characters, and the story arcs are always touching and completely satisfying at the same time.

Pixar's streak continues with their latest film, Cars. In the Cars universe, there are no people, only cars. The story revolves around a race car called Ligtning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) who gets side tracked on his way to California for a big race. He ends up in Radiator City where, through a series of events, is forced to stay there where he befriends the town residents and discovers a deeper meaning to his life.

The voice talent on this film is amazing. Other than Wilson, best known for his latest work in The Wedding Crashers, the film includes Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry The Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, George Carlin, John Ratzenberger, Michael Keaton, Richard Petty, Jeremy Piven, Bob Costas, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jay Leno and Mario Andretti, among others.

This is a fun family film that, along with every other Pixar creation, is entertaining for both children and adults.

I strongly suggest you sit through the end credits, where Pixar gets to make fun of themselves. Another bonus is a short Pixar animation shown before Cars called One Man Band. It's hilarious.

Pixar currently has two more projects in the works, a film called Ratatouille (ra-tat-too-ee) about a French mouse with discerning tastes and Toy Story 3. With the current track record, I'm certain these two new films will be as satisfying as all of their previous films.