# Cars 2: Pixar's first critical flop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 23, 2011, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539 "2011-06-23T10:24:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/1 "2011-06-23T10:24:52Z")
So the reviews for Cars 2 are coming in and they’re not pretty. The movie’s currently sitting at 48% on the Tomatometer after 33 reviews, making it Pixar’s first “rotten” movie, coming in 26% lower than their previous lowest, Cars. Granted, things could change–Toy Story 3 ended up with 250 reviews, but the early reviews are generally the most positive and they’ve been trending downward quickly in this case–a rarity for Pixar. Contrast this with another CG sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2, which is sitting at 83%. Personally, I’m not surprised. Cars was their first truly mediocre movie, though I’ve also been disappointed by several of their more recent outings, such as Wall-e which started off brilliant, but ended far weaker. Cars 2 just seems like such a shameless cash-in–a sequel to Pixar’s lowest rated movie that’s more successful for its insanely popular merchandise than it is as a film. I don’t know if this is a sign of Pixar’s integrity taking a hit, but it seems that their “story first” motto has been compromised, at least in this case. Hopefully this serves as a wake-up call, and not an omen for their future films. They are still one of my favorite studios and I’d hate to see them continue like this. Granted, I haven’t seen the film, but based on it being Cars, and the god-awful trailers, I don’t think I will be anytime soon. And unfortunately, while it looks to be a critical flop, I’m sure it will be a financial success. Anyone catch a screening of this? Eager to hear some doper opinions. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/2 "2011-06-23T10:57:32Z")
Looks okay to me. But I won’t be seeing it in the cinemas, like I usually reserve especially for Pixar. Though _Cars_ is low on my list of Pixars, I still enjoyed it and have watched it several times since. I expect the sequel to be suitably entertaining, but the reviews I’ve read say it skews young, so that does seem like it’s playing to the original’s fans, rather than the broader family audience they usually go for. In the meantime, there’s [this](http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/motion-captured/posts/new-brave-teaser-poster-sets-a-strong-tone-for-pixars-next). ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/3 "2011-06-23T11:11:40Z")
I knew we weren’t going to see this in the theater, just because **Cars** was a waste of our time for a movie. But after seeing Larry the Cable Guy’s racist [standup](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPXyEU5a94c), there’s no way I’m going to watch another movie with him in it. Guy makes my lip curl in disgust. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/4 "2011-06-23T13:32:25Z")
I used to be an enormous CART/IndyCar race fan, so I loved Cars. It’s pretty clear that Cars was a gift to race fans - it shines through most every scene. But this? Apparently the main character is now doing some sort of globe-hopping spy caper? What? It just seems way out of left field. I doubt I’ll catch this one. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/5 "2011-06-23T13:44:56Z")
I think I’m one of the few here who really liked _Cars_. I’m a NASCAR fan and a Route 66 enthusiast, and IMO they nailed both. (They didn’t _call_ it NASCAR, but of course it was.) What worries me about _Cars 2_ is that they’ve apparently removed both of those elements that drew me to the first one. But I still expect it’ll be fun and funny, probably worth a weekend matinee price. Even the worst Pixar film is usually streets ahead of most animated movies. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/6 "2011-06-23T13:47:19Z")
After such a string of success, yeah - when Larry the Cable Guy is the consistently-featured voice in your previews, it can’t be good. Looks more like kiddie shenanigans than a Pixar-broad-appeal movie. First Pixar - next you’ll be telling me that Google has become a mega-corporation and blurred the lines on it’s motto “Don’t be evil” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/7 "2011-06-23T14:04:49Z")
As a big fan of road trips, Route 66, Paul Newman, and the desert southwest, I really enjoyed _Cars_. Those elements don’t seem to be in evidence in the new movie. I’ll probably give the new one a pass. I am looking forward to visiting Radiator Springs at Disney’s California Adventure, though. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/8 "2011-06-23T14:42:22Z")
Pixar isn’t stupid. They know who their audience is, and made _Cars 2_ to appeal to that audience. The movie probably won’t do as much box office as other Pixar films, but considering that the _Cars_ franchise is all about the merchandising anyway, I don’t think they’ll lose a lot of sleep over that. This, though, underscores why I think that holding kids’ movies to adult standards is silly. Kids’ movies aim broad and low because this kind of comedy is what appeals to kids. Adult movies that have similar humor are often panned as “juvenile”, and for good reason; adults are supposed to be more sophisticated than bodily-function jokes. But most kids aren’t that sophisticated, and calling such a movie for kids “juvenile” becomes a Captain-Obvious-level tautology. I know that Pixar is supposed to be better than that, but see my first point. 🙂 We here at Stately Doors Manor are very much looking forward to the movie and are making plans to see it this weekend. But then, we all loved the first movie. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/9 "2011-06-23T15:11:52Z")
I think Pixar has been using all it’s first string talent’s creative juices for next summer’s _Brave_. It’s seems like Cars 2 was just filler made by interns and second string talent until that time since people have come to expect a new Pixar feature each summer. I’ll probably still give it a shot since I heard they went more with a James Bond spy thriller angle rather than a moral message feel good theme. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/10 "2011-06-23T15:16:57Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Pixar isn’t stupid. They know who their audience is, and made _Cars 2_ to appeal to that audience. The movie probably won’t do as much box office as other Pixar films, but considering that the _Cars_ franchise is all about the merchandising anyway, I don’t think they’ll lose a lot of sleep over that. > > This, though, underscores why I think that holding kids’ movies to adult standards is silly. Kids’ movies aim broad and low because this kind of comedy is what appeals to kids. Adult movies that have similar humor are often panned as “juvenile”, and for good reason; adults are supposed to be more sophisticated than bodily-function jokes. But most kids aren’t that sophisticated, and calling such a movie for kids “juvenile” becomes a Captain-Obvious-level tautology. I know that Pixar is supposed to be better than that, but see my first point. 🙂 > > We here at Stately Doors Manor are very much looking forward to the movie and are making plans to see it this weekend. But then, we all loved the first movie. I think what you are saying is that Cars 2 is a kids’ movie and built to make money off merchandising. Okay, then, what were the Toy Story movies? They made billions off merchandizing - but the point is that they are NOT kids’ movies. They appeal to kids, but the characters and themes resonate for teens and adults and seniors, too. THAT’s the point - Pixar has consistently navigated that fine line, but appear to be going with more of a pure kids’ movie approach this time. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/11 "2011-06-23T15:37:25Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I think Pixar has been using all it’s first string talent’s creative juices for next summer’s _Brave_. It’s seems like Cars 2 was just filler made by interns and second string talent until that time since people have come to expect a new Pixar feature each summer. > I’ll probably still give it a shot since I heard they went more with a James Bond spy thriller angle rather than a moral message feel good theme. If by “creative” you mean the scriptwriting and directing process, you may very well be right. But all the technical processes of the film have been worked on by the “A” team over at Pixar. I know a guy who works at Pixar and he was decidedly less than enthused about working on Cars 2. So much so that he wanted his kid listed as a production baby on Toy Story 3 even though it wasn’t born yet when the movie wrapped. He didn’t say this in as many words, but the gist I got from him was he understood making Cars 2 was a decision made for profit, not aesthetics. He also said the only people excited about making Cars 2 were the guys in merchandising and accounting. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/12 "2011-06-23T16:38:31Z")
I’ve seen it. Thisi s a Tow Mater movie with McQueen just popping in every once i a while. So if you have a tolerance for Larry the Cable Guy and enjoy automotive sight gags it’ll be a great time. I suspect this would be better reviewed if the Nickelodeon logo were at the beginning instead of Pixar’s but life ain’t fair. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/13 "2011-06-23T16:44:09Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > This, though, underscores why I think that holding kids’ movies to adult standards is silly. Kids’ movies aim broad and low because this kind of comedy is what appeals to kids. Adult movies that have similar humor are often panned as “juvenile”, and for good reason; adults are supposed to be more sophisticated than bodily-function jokes. But most kids aren’t that sophisticated, and calling such a movie for kids “juvenile” becomes a Captain-Obvious-level tautology. I know that Pixar is supposed to be better than that, but see my first point. Even accepting your premise that what appeals to kids will not appeal to adults, this argument seems to ignore that parents are the ones who buy the tickets for movies kids will see. I agree with you that this is all about merchandising - it’s just an ad to sell \*Cars \*toys. But I disagree that they are targeting kids and not adults. I think they just couldn’t make a script work and settled. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/14 "2011-06-23T16:52:20Z")
This is depressing, but it had to happen sooner or later. I’ll see it, but it is the first Pixar film I’ve not been excited about. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/15 "2011-06-23T17:15:41Z")
Given that the first _Cars_ was their worst movie, why, among all their properties, would they have chosen it for a sequel? Yeah, yeah, obviously for the merchandising, but that’s obviously not what they’re saying about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/16 "2011-06-23T17:25:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Given that the first _Cars_ was their worst movie, why, among all their properties, would they have chosen it for a sequel? Yeah, yeah, obviously for the merchandising, but that’s obviously not what they’re saying about it. This is what my wife were wondering. Cars is the only movie they made that we have not liked. We were not huge fans of Wall-E, but we at least kind of liked it. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/17 "2011-06-23T17:55:20Z")
I know my four year old nephew is going to **LOVE** it…but then he’s going to be confused when he can’t watch the video at home **every day** after he sees it at the theater. ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/18 "2011-06-23T18:19:23Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > I know my four year old nephew is going to **LOVE** it…but then he’s going to be confused when he can’t watch the video at home **every day** after he sees it at the theater. Yeah, this is what I keep saying about my 3yr old son. He’s going to want to watch it again on Saturday. And he’ll probably have to explain to his kids that you used to have to wait after you saw a movie before you could watch it at home. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/19 "2011-06-23T18:34:25Z")
> [@diku](#): > > Yeah, this is what I keep saying about my 3yr old son. He’s going to want to watch it again on Saturday. > > And he’ll probably have to explain to his kids that you used to have to wait after you saw a movie before you could watch it at home. And his kids will wonder what a “movie” is, and how that differs from watching a first-release film streamed in super-HD to their living room projector screen. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539/20 "2011-06-23T18:40:12Z")
> [@Tanbarkie](#): > > And his kids will wonder what a “movie” is, and how that differs from watching a first-release film streamed in super-HD to their living room projector screen. 😉 You still have a living room projector screen? What, your folks won’t let you get Immersion Goggles? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-2-pixars-first-critical-flop/586539.md?page=2)