[Screen Scenes] “Cars" ““ Directed by John Lasseter

Even though Pixar films are expected to look great,
“Cars” takes visual excellence to a whole new level.
While characters are obviously cartoony (they are human-like cars,
after all), the landscapes they inhabit are nothing short of
photorealistic. It’s astonishing to see how far Pixar has
come in a little over a decade, especially considering “Toy
Story” still looks great today.

One of the complaints likely to arise about “Cars”
is that it is difficult to sympathize with cars that have human
facial expressions and act like people. And yes, sometimes
“Cars” can get downright bizarre. There is not a single
human in the film, and buildings have garage doors instead of
actual doors. This is strange and off-putting at first, but
consider this: Pixar is the master of empathy. In past films,
audiences have connected deeply with toys, undersea creatures,
superheroes and make-believe monsters. Pixar has been able to make
people care about objects both inanimate and unreal. Why should
cartoonish cars be any different?

That said, “Cars” is not one of Pixar’s best
efforts. In spite of the fact that the film succeeds in connecting
its characters with the viewer, it lacks the wonder of
“Finding Nemo” and the all-out tongue-in-cheek fun of
“The Incredibles.”

“Cars” is ultimately a fun film to watch and
definitely worth the time. Yet as entertaining as it is,
“Cars” doesn’t end up being truly unforgettable.
But, like “A Bug’s Life,” that’s the worst
thing that you can say about it. If “Cars” is to be
considered a misfire, then it’s exactly the kind of misfire a
studio would want.