Cars 3 Review Round-Up: Here’s What The Critics Are Saying

With Cars 3 speeding into the theaters this weekend, audiences are left at a bit of a stand-still. Yes, Pixar has churned out countless hits over the last couple of decades, so going to see the film should be a given.

However, many people hesitate when it comes to Cars. The first movie in the franchise was a fun adventure, but nothing incredibly special. The second movie on the other hand, is regarded as one of Pixar’s weakest products.

So, is Cars 3 worth the effort? Or is this another ill-advised sequel that nobody should be excited for.

The critics began releasing their reviews today and, much to the surprise of many, Cars 3 is being touted as a welcomed summer addition.

Here’s what the critics have had to say about Cars 3, so far:

IGN

Eric Goldman doesn’t seem to high on the Cars franchise in his review for IGN, but that turns out to be a positive thing for Cars 3. 

He states that the new movie is the first in the franchise to truly feel like it was made by Pixar, and audiences will enjoy it because of that.

“Cars is a film series many dismiss as only existing to sell toys, and it feels like Pixar – under the guidance of director Brian Fee for this installment – was well aware of this perception and wanted to prove this movie had a bigger, story-driven reason for existing. And on that front they’ve succeeded, delivering a much more nuanced, emotional journey for this series.”

Read the full review here.

Variety

Owen Gleiberman, Variety’s chief film critic, believes that Cars 3 is the movie that got the franchise back on track. 

Throughout his review, Gleiberman talks of the heart of this movie, and how the film found a way to bring real emotion into a series that never really had it.

“It’s the first ‘Cars’ film that Lasseter has handed off to one of his trainee/protégés  — Brian Fee, who has never directed a feature before. Fee honed his chops as a storyboard artist, working on “Ratatouille” and the two previous ‘Cars’ films, and what he’s come up with is an exceedingly sweet and polished fable that unfolds with a kid-friendly, by-the-book emotional directness. The CGI animation has a detailed lush clarity highly reminiscent of “Ratatouille,” and the picture moves at such an amiable pace that even the drawling, dawdling pick-up-truck doofus Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) doesn’t slow it down.”

Read the full review here.

USA Today

There seems to be a common theme here, as Brian Truitt’s review seems to  echo the thoughts of the previous two.

Truitt touts Cars 3 as the best of the franchise, and a film that finally captures the essence of what it truly means to be a Pixar product.

While still not a Pixar classic by any stretch, Lightning McQueen and his four-wheeled bunch at least get in the right lane finally with the surprisingly deep Cars 3 (**½ out of four; rated G; in theaters nationwide Friday), which amounts to Rocky IV with anthropomorphic automobiles. The aging champ has lost his mojo, he needs to battle a new-school foe to get it back and there’s a strange path to get there.

Read the full review here.

The Hollywood Reporter

While it may not be quite as positive as the others, Michael Rechtshaffen’s review is at least a departure from the pack.

While Rechstaffen notes that Cars 3 isn’t a bad film, he still feels like there are plenty of marks that were missed, and the movie doesn’t quite stand up to the rest of the titles in the Pixar line-up.

“They all make a welcome return in Cars 3 but, while visually dynamic, Lightning McQueen’s newest challenge still feels out of alignment with a languid end result that lacks sufficient forward momentum.”

Read the full review here.