‘Cars 2’ (2011) (8/10)

The first Cars isn’t one of Pixar’s greatest films by any means, but it is at least a complete and coherent movie. It feels like there was a vision behind it plus some care put into its story, with Lightning McQueen having a clear character arc that gives the film a simple but solid message about winning not always being everything. That all goes out the window with the bizarre Cars 2, which feels like what would happen if A.I. was told to make a second Cars movie with more action and a greater emphasis on comic relief sidekick Mate. The end result feels like a cinematic Frankenstein’s monster – part Cars, part James Bond for kids, and part Larry the Cable Guy standup routine. It is a film that should be run away from at great speed.