John Lasseter, the computer animation genius who gave us such films as Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo, along with a vast catalogue of cartoon shorts prior to his employment with Pixar, has done it again. Cars appeals to Pixar’s NASCAR fans in this cute, family-friendly movie about “the little car who could.”

Cars features Owen Wilson as the voice of Lightning McQueen, a hot-rod rookie racecar who pines to win the racing title. After a stunning three-way tie with his two top rivals, McQueen heads to California to compete in a special race to determine the overall champ. But mid-sleep/transport, McQueen’s trailer opens and dumps him in the middle of the desert. He tears up the road (literally) in an effort to find his ride, but winds up in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town of few inhabitants.

With a battery of quirky residents, sporting such voices as the great Cheech Marin and Tony Shalhoub, McQueen learns life lessons that he could not on a racetrack. Sentenced to undo the damage to the road he’d caused, McQueen interacts with the locals and becomes part of their community. He eventually falls in love with Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt) and befriends the real star of the movie, Mater (“Just like Towmater, only minus the Tow”), played by the ultra-hilarious Larry The Cable Guy.

When McQueen finds out cranky Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) is really the Hudson Hornet, famed racer legend of old, he picks up tips to use in life as well as racing. Applying this new knowledge to the track, McQueen goes to California, only to return to his newly beloved town of Radiator Springs.

The ending is your typical heart-warming ending, however, the story is a little stupid. As Pixar movies go, this is one of the poorer movies. Not to say that it’s a bad movie, but the plot runs as thin as new car oil. McQueen gives up his first place finish to assist “The King” (Richard Petty), who is pushed into a spinout by Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton). Who does this? Lightning McQueen, that’s who!

Due to its G-rating, this ending suffices. However, I was left unsatisfied, and a little perturbed at the way things played out. My suggestion: slap a PG-13 on there and make this movie a bit more uppity! Still, it’s a good family bonding flick if used properly around a roaring fire and freshly popped popcorn.

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