"Hey - that's my lucky sticker!"

I wasn’t even going to write about this great movie, but since it has now come on extended cable systems and I have watched it tons of times, I just had to share my thoughts with you!

Cars is a wonderful story about an arrogant race car that falls in love. Lightening McQueen (Owen Wilson) not only falls for Sally the Porche (Bonnie Hunt), but also a forgotten town and all of its’ inhabitants. Radiator City is a cute little town that America forgot after being surpassed by an interstate. Located on Route 66, Radiator Springs has the nicest, most diverse people (I mean vehicles) that help young and old remember what helps to make America GREAT! Cars is such a great movie that reminds us to slow down and smell the coffee. I am continually surprised at all of the moral lessons in this animated picture for little ones and old ones, alike.

There are life lessons of… you can’t do everything on your own ~ first impressions aren’t always correct ~ Slow down and pay attention to the beauty around you and much more.

The jest of it
Lightening McQueen is a red rookie race car contending for the Piston Cup. After a tie at the end of the season with Chick Hicks and the King, a tie breaker for the Cup is scheduled for California. On the way McQueen finds himself lost in the “lost” city of Radiator Springs. After being caught speeding and a trial to find his fate, McQueen finds himself having to pave a road to pay his debt to society. During that time he finds a best friend, a girlfriend and a pit crew.

Best Parts of the Movie
~TOW MATER!!!! He is great. I wish I had a best friend like that…Care free, HILARIOUS and loyal!
~Tractor Tipping!!! I really have been cow tipping before!
~The flies or beetles are little tiny Volkswagen beetles with wings. How CUTE!!!
~The scenery when Sally and McQueen go on their drive.
~The history and story of Radiator Springs.
~Watching Doc Hudson turn into a “softy” in the end and being sort of a “father” figure to McQueen.
~Fillmore - He is a 1960 VW Bus painted up as a flower child! George Carlin is GREAT!

Characters:
Lightening McQueen - Owen Wilson
Doc Hudson - Paul Newman
Mater - Larry the Cable Guy
Sally - Bonnie Hunt
Chick Hicks - Michael Keaton
The King - Richard Petty
Ramone - Cheech Marin
Fillmore - George Carlin
Sarge - Paul Dooley
Flo - Jenifer Lewis
Luigi - Tony Shalhoub
Guido - Guido Quaroni
Sheriff - Michael Wallis
Mack - John Ratzenberger
Lizzie - Katherine Helmond
Red - Joe Ranft

Directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Joe Ranft.

In the end
Toddlers - I took my son when he had just turned two, to the movie theater to see Cars and he didn’t move! He loved it. We have probably watched it over 10 times to date and it remains the only movie that my son will sit through. It is action pack for little ones.

School Age - There is enough of a “cool” factor that I think most kids 6-18 would watch this movie and love it and tell their friends that they love it.

Adults - This is now on my top three Disney Movies of all time. As a Communication major, I love the special effects and graphics and the creativity in the small details is second to none!

A must see!