Cars (2006)

Directors:

John Lasseter
Joe Ranft (co-director)

Writers:

John Lasseter (story) &
Joe Ranft (story) ...

Release Date:

9 June 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Ahhh... it's got that new movie smell.

Plot:

A hot-shot race-car named Lightning McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family.

Plot Keywords:

Car | Friendship | Race Car | Route 66 | Small Town

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 19 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 26	7:00 PM	DISN
Fri. Nov. 27	10:30 AM	DISN

Cast

Owen Wilson	...	Lightning McQueen (voice)
Paul Newman	...	Doc Hudson (voice)
Bonnie Hunt	...	Sally Carrera (voice)
Larry The Cable Guy	...	Mater (voice)
Cheech Marin	...	Ramone (voice)
Tony Shalhoub	...	Luigi (voice)
Guido Quaroni	...	Guido (voice)
Jenifer Lewis	...	Flo (voice)
Paul Dooley	...	Sarge (voice)
Michael Wallis	...	Sheriff (voice)
George Carlin	...	Fillmore (voice)
Katherine Helmond	...	Lizzie (voice)
John Ratzenberger	...	Mack / Hamm Truck / Abominable Snow Plow / P.T. Flea Car (voice)
Joe Ranft	...	Red / Jerry Recycled Batteries / Peterbilt (voice)
Michael Keaton	...	Chick Hicks (voice)

Also Known As:

Route 66 (USA) (working title)
The Cars (USA) (working title)
The Yellow Car (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Japanese | Yiddish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:U | UK:PG | Ireland:G | Singapore:G | Australia:G | USA:G (certificate #42361) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Portugal:M/6 | Argentina:Atp | Norway:A | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:Btl | Hong Kong:I | Germany:o.Al. | Philippines:G | Brazil:Livre | India:U | Finland:K-3 | South Africa:PG | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Peru:PT | Malta:U

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

The yellow Humvee that says "Lightning McQueen must be found at all costs!" is an obvious spoof of California's governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, based on the fact that Humvee is standing in front of the California State House in Sacramento, speaking with a Austrian accent, and sporting a roof ornament, which distinctly resembles Arnold's hairstyle. Probably not coincidentally, Schwarzenegger was the first private owner of a Humvee (High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle) in the USA.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening race, both the "Re-Volting" and the white "Apple" car are #84.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lightning McQueen: Okay, here we go. Focus. Speed. I am speed. One winner, forty-two losers. I eat losers for breakfast. Breakfast? Maybe I should have had breakfast? Brekkie could be good for me. No, no, no, focus. Speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. I am Lightning.

Movie Connections:

References The In-Laws (1979)

Soundtrack:

Route 66

Another "must see" movie from Pixar

I was able to attend a premiere showing of this movie in North Carolina and was amazed again at how much more a movie can be than just "animation." This film focuses on a changed reality, a world where cars are the only life form and so we must suspend our own reality to enjoy this film. In the same flavor as the first Pixar films, we quickly accept a world where everything is a motorized vehicle that lives and acts like we do in our own world. The cars have experiences in life, desires that drive (sorry for that) them, and misunderstandings that are taken advantage of.

My wife and I loved this movie and plan to see it again when it is in public release. I cherished all the nuances of the film and the attention to detail not seen in animations from other companies.

For fans of all ages, this film is for you.