Cars 3 in Theaters Today!

I was given passes to see a screening of this movie. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own.

My family has seen the first 2 Cars movies so there was no doubt that they’d want to see the newest movie: Cars 3.

My son Hayden loved the first one so much that he damaged the DVD and we had to buy a new one. The second one wasn’t as bad… since we purchased it on Blu-ray. However, Noah got into the movie as well when he was old enough to know he loved cars. So I sent my husband and boys to the preview and I stayed home with Olivia since she isn’t quite old enough to check out a movie theater. This review is coming from my husband Paul.

Lightning McQueen is at a crossroads in his career. He has lost his racing championship to rising star Jackson Storm, he is struggling to keep up with the new high-tech racers, and he has just suffered a serious crash. His future as a racer is doubt, but he is not ready to hang up his racing tire just yet. His new sponsor has given him one last shot at glory, and he determined to make the best of the opportunity. However, his training does not go as he had hoped and decided to take matters into his own hands. Along the way, Lightning explores his roots and considers what it really means to be a racer.

Review:

This Cars movie is quite different than the previous two in that it is much more emotional and introspective. On one hand, Lightning is wrestling with his pride which is telling him he still has gas in the tank (pun intended). On the other hand, it is becoming clear to him that he may not have what it takes to keep up with the new next-gen racers. This film does a good job dealing with this internal conflict, as well as the resulting conflict between McQueen and his new trainer, Cruz Ramirez.

Like the previous movies in the series, this movie has plenty of action to keep you on the edge of your seat. There is one particularly entertaining scene in which Lightning and Cruz find themselves thrust into a figure-8, smash-up derby race at Thunder Hollow. They attempt to escape at the last minute but are forced to race in the last-car-standing event. This scene generated the most laughter from the audience.

Where this movie shines, though, is in the relationships that formed and strengthened throughout the film. Specifically, Lightning’s often rocky relationship with Cruz is fun to watch and ultimately leads to an important decision. I will not reveal and spoilers, but this certainly the most heartwarming film in the Cars Trilogy, and my personal favorite.

Check out the trailer below! You can also follow Cars 3 on Facebook or Twitter.