CasuallyCarrots

CasuallyCarrots OP t1_jdwun5z wrote

I wasn't saying every car is a racecar, but Cars 1 starts off with the main plot being about a arrogant racecar trying to win the race, and when he ties his entire goal is getting back to racing.

That initial act is replaced when he is forced to slow down due to his own actions, and it was refreshing that the plot develops more into a "stop and smell the roses" style movie.

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CasuallyCarrots OP t1_jdwmwf5 wrote

I am not sure I totally agree they couldn't come up with anything more. In my own opinion, I think Cars 3 is even better than 1.

Even if someone disagrees with that, if someone liked Cars 1 or Cars 3 it's a safe bet they would probably say the other is also a good movie, so they definitely had more creative space to use after Cars 1.

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CasuallyCarrots OP t1_jdwmaa4 wrote

It's just such a huge departure from the theme of the first one. A movie where everyone is a car and racing is the initial framework? Sure fits well. A follow-up where everyone is a car and... there is a terroristic threat against green(er) energy? The hell?

Any insight on if the was a "Well we have Michael Caine so let's do a cars-based British spy thing" versus "We have a cars-based British spy movie let's get Michael Caine"?

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CasuallyCarrots OP t1_jdwlbl2 wrote

Good points. Even for more of a 'sellout' movie, Cars 2 just feels so far off the mark it makes me feel like I am the one taking crazy pills.

Even Cars 3 feels like it would be better at marketing towards car people as it has everything from the small local dirt derby races, nostalgia/legacy racers, and sticking it to big corporations that take the heart out of things for profit. Definitely makes Cars 2 feel cheap in that context with how short-sighted its design and execution went.

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CasuallyCarrots OP t1_jdwkqrr wrote

That's a really excellent point about the character trade-off. Definitely speaks to Finding Nemo versus Dory.

Larry also isn't my favorite persona either so that probably does not help the situation, but I also noticed the lack of original cast in Cars 3 too.

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