‘Cars 2’ is a rare Pixar misfire

Pixar is the undisputed champion of animated films. From the successful Toy Story movies to The Incredibles, Wall-E and Up, the studio knows how to combine amazing visuals with thoughtful plots and memorable characters. Until this summer, Pixar was batting a thousand, never misfiring and always coming through with a solid film each and every single year.

Now comes Cars 2, a sequel that from the get-go feels pushed and unnecessary. The original 2006 movie is a nice little yarn about a great American pasttime. It was enjoyable, funny and perfect by itself. It was so wholesome that it caused dimples in the cheek.

Other than the obvious economic factor (cars + kids = cash cow), why the studio felt compelled to offer up a sequel is beyond comprehension. Put this one on the “miss” list.

Cars 2 revisits some of the old characters that we’ve come to love. Owen Wilson voices Lightning McQueen, a blazing-red race car that finds solace among the simpler life of Radiator Springs, a forgotten town along the old Route 66. His best friend is a disheveled tow truck named Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) and he still pays homage to his decease mentor Doc Hudson (voiced by Paul Newman in the original film).

In the first installment, the plot surrounded McQueen’s desire to become a better racer, but only after learning the true value of friendship and love. In Cars 2, that whole premise is blown to smithereens. Instead, we are left with a convoluted double-edge storyline: McQueen decides to race in the World Grand Prix, while Mater gets caught up in an international espionage case that involves British spies and Mafia-esque villains.

There are few scenes in Radiator Springs and much of the original’s quaintness is left in the dust. The worst casualty is the character of Sally (voiced by Bonnie Hunt), McQueen’s supposed love interest. While McQueen is cavorting around Europe and Mater is doing his best James Bond impression, Sally is nowhere to be seen. One of the central characters of the original is completely disregarded in the sequel.

The new characters are likable to a point. Michael Caine voices Finn McMissile, while Emily Mortimer voices Holley Shiftwell. The two are British spies sent to unearth a diabolical alternative-energy plot courtesy of Francesco Bernoulli (John Turturro). Animated films shouldn’t dumb down their plots in order to impress younger viewers, but many of the conversations in this film about new fuel technology seems a little too advanced for the target audience.

The problem with employing cars in international espionage is that the animation doesn’t seem to work. Having these vehicles drive around the streets and take part in racing contests is perfectly fitting. But when these same cars sneak onto boats, scale roofs and gamble at a casino, it all looks odd. It’s almost as if the directors and writers have humanized these vehicles too much.

And the plot just doesn’t work. It feels like the writers couldn’t think of enough material for one story, so they created two and molded them together.

This is not to say that the visuals of Cars 2 are any less stunning than other Pixar films. In fact, because the World Grand Prix ix set against the backdrop of several European cities, including London and Paris, this may be one of the most beautiful Pixar films out there. But the studio never solely went for the “Wow” factor in the past. The drop-dead gorgeous imagery was always complementary to solid characters and a cohesive plot. This sequel hits the visual benchmark out of the park, but lacks drastically in the other departments.

Cars 2 is never boring, but it’s far from perfect.

• Cars 2

• 2011

• Directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis

• Written by Ben Queen, based on a story by Lasseter, Lewis and Dan Fogelman

• Voice talents include Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, John Turturro, Emily Mortimer, Michael Caine and Bonnie Hunt

• Running time: 106 minutes

• Rated G

• Bubble score: 2.5 out of 4

• Click here to purchase Cars 2 on DVD.