Sometimes movies are reminiscent of other films, and sometimes they just steal another movie's plotline outright and change the setting. Barb Wire is a post apocalyptic Casablanca with boobs. And this film is Doc Hollywood with talking cars.
Unlike Barb Wire, however, Cars is a significantly better film than its progenitor. Not that Michael J Fox's earlier film was bad; it's just that this one does such a great job with all the little details. The dialogue is tight, the visual humor slick and all but non-stop, and the film's message - while as sugary as molasses and as subtle as a sledgehammer - has a way of worming its way into your heart whether you want it to or not. It might not be quite on the level of an Incredibles or a WALL-E, but it's still darn fine film-making.
Lightning McQueen is a hot young racecar; the first rookie to have a shot at winning the Piston Cup in his opening year in the competition. But he's also arrogant, self-centered and more than a little pig-headed. He drives away almost everyone around him, and then through his own foolishness ends up sentenced to community service in a small town in the middle of nowhere.
Of course, in the manner of small towns in movies, this one is filled with a cast of loveable eccentrics - and a very sleek Porsche 911 named Sally. McQueen, initially interested only in getting out of town and to the big race, starts to learn some lessons about what is most important in life. Turns out it might not be winning trophies, after all.
This is a movie that runs along a very familiar track, but it hits the apex of every curve and roars down every straight while it's doing it. Worth your time.
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