Cars
Rated GThe Basics
Title: Cars
Rating: G3
Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages 6+
Ages 3 - 7: Yellow
Ages 8 - 12: Green
Ages 13 - 17: Green
Violence Amount: Green
Violence Portrayal:
Green
Fear: Green
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Green
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green
Review:
In this engaging animation, Lightning McQueen
(Owen Wilson) is a rookie racecar in a world
made up of only cars. Even the bugs are tiny
VW cars. Headed for the Big Piston Cup Championship
Race, Lightning wants to beat the other racers
there so he can butter up a big sponsor. He
runs into a little trouble on the way and
ends up in a small, out of the way town, Radiator
Springs, off the highway on Route 66. After
tearing up part of the town’s main street,
the judge (Paul Newman) sentences Lightning
to fix the road before he can leave town.
Lightning thinks that he can do everything
by himself, working alone. Even in a race,
he never appreciates his crews. The people
of Radiator Springs, however, teach him a
few lessons. Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy)
is a rusted out old pick-up truck, but he
turns out to be Lightning’s first friend.
Sally (Bonnie Hunt) is a very shapely Porsche
and an attorney. The judge is the calm voice
of reason and wisdom for a young racecar.
Lightning learns that the journey is more
valuable then who wins or loses. He learns
the meaning of friendship. Even though the
cars have eyes in their windshields and mouths
in their grills, the story will not emotionally
engage children the way talking animals do.
Parents be aware: there is some brief crude
language but nothing really offensive. The
movie is entertaining but it is not up to
the quality of the animated movies from Pixar
like “Finding Nemo” or “Toy
Story”. Boys will probably enjoy this
movie more, especially if they are into cars.
I would recommend it for children 6 and older.
It is not vivid enough or simple enough for
toddlers. You might ask your children what
their favorite car trip has been. You could
also explain to them about Route 66.
|
 Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.
Linda has been a lover of movies
since she was a small child. This
love of film eventually brought
her to the point in life where
she is now, a film critic. She
was featured on WCCO radio for
three years on the “Dark
in the Morning” show with
Dark Star.
In December of 2001, Linda became
the film critic for the syndicated
“Ruth Koscielak Show”.
Linda sees over 150 movies a
year and has had the opportunity
to interview a number of directors
and actors when they are in town.
She has also appeared on a public
access show called the "Cinema
Judge" and has ventured into
writing for "Cinestar"
magazine in September 2002. The
Twin Cities movie magazine is
available, for free, at most local
Blockbuster's and local movie
cheaters.
Her website is: www.lindathomasmovies.com
As one of the few female reviewers
in the Twin Cities area, she brings
a unique point of view to her
reviews. Linda has raised two
children, a boy and a girl, and
knows what they like in movies
and what is appropriate. Hopefully,
her reviews will help your family
in choosing where to next spend
your movie-going dollar.
|
|
|
