Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

CARS (G)

MOVIE BIASES: Don't bet against Pixar.

MAJOR PLAYERS: Voices of Owen Wilson (Wedding Crashers), Paul Newman
(Road to Perdition), Bonnie Hunt (Jerry Maguire), Larry the Cable Guy (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector), and co-writer/director John Lasseter (Toy Story)

With an impressive string of uninterrupted nine-figure hits and their recent merger with Disney, Pixar has enjoyed unparalleled success commercially and qualitatively. Critical darlings for their smart scripts and eye-popping animated production values, the company that brought us "Toy Story" and "The Incredibles" rolls into theaters with its latest offering, "Cars." While it may not be an emotional
tearjerker like "Finding Nemo," "Cars" entertains all the way to the finish line.

"I eat losers for breakfast," boasts Lightning McQueen (Wilson), a finely tuned, precision racing machine who's a rookie on the vaunted, NASCAR-esque Piston Cup racing circuit. In this anthropomorphic world where cars exist instead of people, Lightning's all throttle, no downshift, a cocky, heartthrob ("I create feelings in others that they don't seem to understand") of a rookie race car who eschews the value
of a pit crew while gunning for a flashier, wealthier sponsor than his current, dowdier one. After an exciting, goofy big race open, Lightning has to participate in a race in California to decide the Piston Cup. While en route from somewhere in the South, Lightning gets lost and then trapped in Radiator Springs ("the cutest little town in
Carburetor County"), a forgotten burg off the seldom used Route 66. While stuck in "hillbilly hell," Lightning begrudgingly ingratiates himself to the locals, including the super-country Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) - as in "Tow Mater" - and a foxy little Porsche named Sally Carrera (Hunt). Only the town's mayor, Doc (Newman), doesn't trust him, while harboring a secret past of his own.

In this age of double digit ticket prices, Pixar always gives you your money's worth on the screen. It's become a cliche's cliche to rave about the standard-issue fabulous Pixar 3-D animation. The look of the movie is all Hollywood animated sheen, a glossy, indelible visual buffet that will forever clown my childhood favorites of "Dumbo" and "The Fox and the Hound." What does differentiate itself this go 'round is Randy Newman's (Toy Story) great musical score alongside an energetic, relevant soundtrack (even if it's a little bit on the country music side (adhering to the tastes of racing's Southern roots and base), there's a little hip hop thrown in for comic effect). Although cobbled together by no less than six credited writers, "Cars'" story is a solid, if not slightly right-lane driving vehicle. Sure, we all know what character arc Lightning McQueen should and will take, but there is plenty of fun getting there (cue the silly country fun of "tractor tipping" here).

In fact, that seems to be the theme of the movie: enjoying the ride. With sturdy vocal performances all around, "Cars" drives home (sorry, couldn't help myself) the themes of friendship, love, teamwork, and personal responsibility. Even though Owen Wilson's an engaging enough narcissist as Lightning (he has his own annoyingly signature, commercial-ready saying of "Ka-chow!"), it's his interactions with Bonnie Hunt's sweet and sensible Sally and Larry the Cable Guy's hilariously country dumb but heart smart Mater that ultimately accesses the, um, "humanity" underneath Lightning's hood. By spotlighting how the paved, multi-lane interstate (re: "progress") has literally bypassed Radiator Springs, essentially draining it of its
civic pride and financial vitality, "Cars" makes a strong case for enjoying the smaller, simpler pleasures in life, and the journey that it takes. Bigger isn't necessarily better (are you listening, Wal-Mart?), nor is faster (are you listening, Self?).

Sometimes in life, we need to take a drive without worrying about where we're going, how fast we'll get there, or what number of REELS to give it. As millions of people this weekend will surely affirm in another box office obliterating Pixar opening, that's just fine by me.

@@@ REELS
(THREE REELS)
It's pretty hot – go give it a shot.

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*** by Edwardo Jackson BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare CARS (G) MOVIE BIASES: Don't bet against Pixar. MAJOR PLAYERS: Voices of Owen Wilson (Wedding Crashers), Paul Newman (Road to Perdition), Bonnie Hunt (Jerry Maguire), Larry the Cable Guy (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector), and co-writer/director John Lasseter (Toy Story) With an impressive string of uninterrupted nine-figure hits and their recent merger with Disney, Pixar has enjoyed unparalleled success commercially and qualitatively. Critical darlings for their smart scripts and eye-popping animated production values, the company that brought us "Toy Story" and "The Incredibles" rolls into theaters with its latest offering, "Cars." While it may not be an emotional tearjerker like "Finding Nemo," "Cars" entertains all the way to the finish line. "I eat losers for breakfast," boasts Lightning McQueen (Wilson), a finely tuned, precision racing machine who's a rookie on the vaunted, NASCAR-esque Piston Cup racing circuit. In this anthropomorphic world where cars exist instead of people, Lightning's all throttle, no downshift, a cocky, heartthrob ("I create feelings in others that they don't seem to understand") of a rookie race car who eschews the value of a pit crew while gunning for a flashier, wealthier sponsor than his current, dowdier one. After an exciting, goofy big race open, Lightning has to participate in a race in California to decide the Piston Cup. While en route from somewhere in the South, Lightning gets lost and then trapped in Radiator Springs ("the cutest little town in Carburetor County"), a forgotten burg off the seldom used Route 66. While stuck in "hillbilly hell," Lightning begrudgingly ingratiates himself to the locals, including the super-country Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) - as in "Tow Mater" - and a foxy little Porsche named Sally Carrera (Hunt). Only the town's mayor, Doc (Newman), doesn't trust him, while harboring a secret past of his own. In this age of double digit ticket prices, Pixar always gives you your money's worth on the screen. It's become a cliche's cliche to rave about the standard-issue fabulous Pixar 3-D animation. The look of the movie is all Hollywood animated sheen, a glossy, indelible visual buffet that will forever clown my childhood favorites of "Dumbo" and "The Fox and the Hound." What does differentiate itself this go 'round is Randy Newman's (Toy Story) great musical score alongside an energetic, relevant soundtrack (even if it's a little bit on the country music side (adhering to the tastes of racing's Southern roots and base), there's a little hip hop thrown in for comic effect). Although cobbled together by no less than six credited writers, "Cars'" story is a solid, if not slightly right-lane driving vehicle. Sure, we all know what character arc Lightning McQueen should and will take, but there is plenty of fun getting there (cue the silly country fun of "tractor tipping" here). In fact, that seems to be the theme of the movie: enjoying the ride. With sturdy vocal performances all around, "Cars" drives home (sorry, couldn't help myself) the themes of friendship, love, teamwork, and personal responsibility. Even though Owen Wilson's an engaging enough narcissist as Lightning (he has his own annoyingly signature, commercial-ready saying of "Ka-chow!"), it's his interactions with Bonnie Hunt's sweet and sensible Sally and Larry the Cable Guy's hilariously country dumb but heart smart Mater that ultimately accesses the, um, "humanity" underneath Lightning's hood. By spotlighting how the paved, multi-lane interstate (re: "progress") has literally bypassed Radiator Springs, essentially draining it of its civic pride and financial vitality, "Cars" makes a strong case for enjoying the smaller, simpler pleasures in life, and the journey that it takes. Bigger isn't necessarily better (are you listening, Wal-Mart?), nor is faster (are you listening, Self?). Sometimes in life, we need to take a drive without worrying about where we're going, how fast we'll get there, or what number of REELS to give it. As millions of people this weekend will surely affirm in another box office obliterating Pixar opening, that's just fine by me. @@@ REELS (THREE REELS) It's pretty hot – go give it a shot. Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com © 2004, Edwardo Jackson