Cars 3 | Film review - Pixar's animated sequel keeps its foot to the floor

(Image credit: Pixar)

From this moment, everything will change.

Pixar’s quirky animated automobiles rev up for another lap of comedy and adventure in Cars 3.

The series’ hero, champion racing car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson), is back, but on this outing he is being overtaken by a new generation of hi-tech machines led by the swaggering Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer). Can Latina trainer Cruz Ramirez (comedian Cristela Alonzo) – once an aspirant racer herself - get him in shape to compete with these sleek rivals? Or is it time for him to retire?

Although this sequel can’t quite keep pace with the studio’s best films, it remains winningly entertaining all the same – and a distinct improvement on instalment number two. Amid the comic antics and racetrack thrills and spills, you will find some surprisingly mature musings here on ageing and acceptance.

Certificate U. Runtime 103 mins. Director Brian Fee

Cars 3 is available on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital from Walt Disney Studios.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LeOH9AGJQM

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A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.