It’s a good one, guys. Don’t worry, it’s much more Cars 1 than Cars 2.
To be perfectly honest, I didn’t get a chance to give the first third of the movie my undivided attention. I decided to take the whole family with me to the media preview and, in retrospect, 23 months might yet be a little young for a feature length movie. (I know, I know, but she’s really into airplanes these days and I thought she might enjoy it. ) It’s certainly too young to line up for 20 minutes first and then wait while security rifles through your parents’ bags and frisks them with a metal detector. I’m so glad I didn’t wear my thigh-high phone holster. That would have been embarrassing.
They were also showing the 3D version of the movie which meant that both Irene and Mary kept taking off their glasses and I kept putting them back on so they could see the movie in focus. (Please let’s stop with the 3D already, by the way. It’s a distraction in any decent movie.) Then there was the passing back and forth of the drink and popcorn across five seats because one extra mortgage on the house for movie snacks is my hard limit. Finally, Mary made a break for it and I sent Ed after her so I’d be able to tell you if the movie’s worth it.
The lead character, Dusty Crophopper, is completely endearing. He has all the personality of Lightening McQueen and he’s just as lovable as Mater. Planes boasts a strong supporting cast too with a cranky older plane turned reluctant coach à la Cars. I said it was good, not mind-blowingly original. The plot is straightforward, fun and suspenseful with one definite bad guy but no downright scary moments. None of my kids screamed out loud in the theatre which may be a first.
The big takeaway lesson is that helping others out of the goodness of your heart will make them want to help you in return. It’s a story in which the good guy wins and that’s probably as good a moral as any for kids.
Here’s the trailer:
Already seen it? Lemme know what you thought of it, especially the first half hour or so.