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Cars

6/10

Stars: Voices: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Michael Keaton, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, Paul Dooley

Director: John Lasseter

You've seen this before, when it was called Doc Hollywood. Pixar Studios have changed all the human characters and replaced them with cars. So now it's cocky young racing car Lightning McQueen (Wilson) who, en route to the big race for the Piston Cup, finds himself on an unexpected detour to Hicksville, alias Radiator Springs, where he unintentionally creates havoc and is sentenced to community service.

Naturally, he falls in love with both the place, which is surrounded by picturesque desert, and Sally (Hunt), the blue Porsche who acts as the community's attorney. He also meets Doc Hudson (Newman), a famous racer from the 1950s who was forced to retire after a spectacular crash.

Kids will enjoy most of this, although it's a long sit for very small bottoms, and adults may have to suppress a groan as the last race is announced as being over 200 laps.

Moments of inspiration, a little too few and far between compared to Pixar's previous successes, include the naming of the tyres the racers use - Lightyear. That should give you a buzz.

David Quinlan

USA 2006. UK Distributor: Buena Vista. Technicolor.
121 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: U.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 22 Jan 2007