Pixar Filmography, Volume 4: "Cars 3" (Or, Old Roads, New Lessons)

"It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"

Every family has a black sheep. Pixar Animation Studios' just happens to be a set of talking planes, trains, and automobiles. 

The cheery 2006 blockbuster, Cars, recalled the historic Route 66 of the mid-20th century. Its 2011 sequel, Cars 2, was another box-office hit--and also the studio's first critical dud--but shifted gears and became more of a spinoff, sending comic relief tow truck Mater on an international espionage mission. (In retrospect, having Mater is the main character in this particular plot may not have been the best idea.) 

Fast forward to 2017, when the third installment, Cars 3, took the series back to its roots. Or, should I say, routes? Pro-racecar Lightning McQueen's days may be coming to an end in an ever-changing industry and world, especially when an arrogant rookie starts stealing his thunder and McQueen begins training for one more big event. 

What makes this film an exceptional chapter is its callback to the glory days (and forgotten stories) of old-time racers, including those who never got a chance to show what they're made of, whether because of age, gender, or background. It's an inspiring theme that's especially bittersweet due to the subtle tributes to the late Paul Newman (the voice of Doc Hudson in the first film). It also goes to show that it's never to late to pursue your dreams, and remember what made the sport so great to begin with. 

At the same time, Cars 3 represents a passing of the torch in McQueen's own "hero's journey," transitioning, like Doc, from rookie to champion to mentor, specifically towards auto trainer (and former aspiring racer) Cruz Ramirez. It's a heartwarming and empowering moral that elevates this franchise about anthropomorphic automobiles. It just may be the best installment to date, even if everyone else (including people in the Pixar fan family) doesn't agree. 

Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and Cruz Ramirez (voiced by Cristela Alonzo) in Cars 3

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Rated "G" for "General Audiences," or "Gone from the Ratings System"?

In recent years, there haven't really been that many G-rated films released in theaters. (Read my post on Disney films in the mid-1990s to early-2000s.) Perhaps this is one of many signs that our culture (and today's children) have become much more mature and sophisticated. Maybe too fast. 

For example, look at Disney's recent string of films. Tangled (2010). Wreck-It Ralph (2012). Frozen (2013). Big Hero 6 (2014). Zootopia and Moana (both 2016). All are PG-rated, and for reasons varying from "thematic elements" to "action" to "rude humor," and so forth. 

 

Want more proof? Here's a recap of G-Rated theatrical releases in the United States since 2004, when The Incredibles (Pixar's first PG-rated pic) was released: 

2004: Clifford's Really Big Movie (Warner Bros.), The Polar Express (Warner Bros), The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (Disney)*

2005: Chicken Little (Disney), Herbie: Fully Loaded (Disney)*, Ice Princess (Disney)*, March of the Penguins (Warner Bros.)**, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (DreamWorks/Aardman)

2006: Cars (Pixar), Charlotte's Web (Paramount/Nickelodeon)*, Curious George (Universal), The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (Disney)*

2007: Meet the Robinsons (Disney), Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Fox)*, Ratatouille (Pixar)

2008: Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who (Fox/Blue Sky), High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Disney)*, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (Warner Bros./New Line/Picturehouse)*, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A Veggietales Movie (Universal), The Tale of Despereaux (Universal), WALL-E (Pixar)

2009: Earth (Disneynature)**, Hannah Montana: The Movie (Disney)*, Ponyo (Studio Ghibli), The Princess and the Frog (Disney)

2010: Oceans (Disneynature)**, Ramona & Beezus (Fox)*, Toy Story 3 (Pixar)

2011: African Cats (Disneynature)**, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Fox)*, Cars 2 (Pixar), Gnomeo & Juliet (Disney/Touchstone), Rio (Fox/Blue Sky), Winnie the Pooh (Disney)

2012: Chimpanzee (Disneynature)**, The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure (Freestyle Releasing)*, The Secret World of Arrietty (Studio Ghibli)

2013: Monsters University (Pixar)

2014: Rio 2 (Fox/Blue Sky)

2015: Monkey Kingdom (Disneynature)**, The Peanuts Movie (Fox/Blue Sky)

2016: The Eagle Huntress (Sony Pictures Classics)*

2017: Born in China (Disneynature)**, Cars 3 (Pixar)

2019: Toy Story 4 (Pixar) 

2021: Paw Patrol: The Movie 

(Paramount/Nickelodeon) 

*live-action

**nature documentary

Courtesy the MPAA (later renamed the MPA)

WRITER'S NOTE: Just because there are less-and-less G-rated films these days doesn't mean they're not worth seeing or that there's no room for them in today's culture. Nor should that be an excuse to make the rating a scapegoat for strictly‐kids-only entertainment. Remember, some of our most enduring and unforgettable films since the early-20th Century have something for everyone, from Disney to MGM musicals and human dramas.