Why I Bought Disney’s Cars from the Disney Movie Club

by Steve Collins

The 2006 animated feature film Cars is a movie that will entertain everyone in the family. In a world populated entirely by vehicles, Cars carries a message of admirable sportsmanship and examines the idea of success and how it is measured. The seventh Pixar film (the final one before Disney took over) is as delightful as its predecessors.

Cars boasts an excellent soundtrack and the speaking talents of a great cast which includes Paul Newman in his last role before retiring. Joining him are Bonnie Hunt, George Carlin, Cheech Marin, John Ratzenberger, and Owen Wilson, among others. The film begins and ends on the speedway, and appropriately enough, its June 2006 debut was at Lowe’s Speedway in North Carolina. In between, the action takes place in Radiator Springs, a Route 66 town bypassed because of the interstate.

Lightning McQueen is the film’s main character. The action centers on his quest to reach California to compete in a match race between the three cars tied for first place in the Piston Cup. Separated from his entourage as they travel west, he lands in Radiator Springs and hot water. He finds himself in trouble being prosecuted by Sally Carerra, who eventually becomes McQueen’s girl. He is sentenced to road paving duty and chafes under the assignment in his desperation to get to California. During his days in Radiator Springs, he meets an old racing hero, Hudson Hornet, whom the town knows as Doc. Doc teaches Lighting a few difficult things about life, then kindly informs the media how to find him.

Once on the track in California, Lightning is too preoccupied by memories of Radiator Springs to concentrate on the race, and all looks lost until Doc arrives with a well oiled pit crew of his own making. The race in his grasp, Lightning foregoes victory to practice the sportsmanship lessons he gained from Doc. In the end, the victor is booed and kind hearted Lightning is a hero.

The feel-good film enjoyed great success all across the globe and became the first movie dubbed in Ukranian for its video release by Disney. On another unusual note, the Russian video’s title translates to “wheelbarrows”-their slang term for cars. The worldwide home video market for Cars is astounding, insuring that this movie is definitely going to become a classic

About the Author:

Steve Collins is an Author and Journalist based in Encino, CA. A huge Disney fan, he uses the Disney Movie Club to fill the gaps in his collection. Read his reviews of the movies he has bought from the Disney Movie Club