Cars 2

(PG) Voice talents of Micheal Caine, Owen Wilson

This sequel portrays a souped-up, new and engaging chapter of the story which sees the inhabitants of Radiator Springs opened up to a world of adventure where Lightning (Owen Wilson) and his pals get to race in the aptly-titled World Grand Prix.

The tale is in high gear from the opening sequence which follows the exploits of suave super spy Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) as he discovers an evil plan by the dastardly Professor Z.

It was only a matter of time before Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) had his moment in the spotlight. While McQueen races in the first leg of the Grand Prix, Mater unexpectedly gets caught up in an adventure of his own; international espionage.

Cars 2 is really Mater’s movie. There is a lot of humour in Mater’s fish-out-of-water antics that take place when the gang arrive inTokyo and Mater’s mistaken identity as a super spy lands him at the centre of an international conspiracy.

As the film jumps around the globe, director Lasseter and co-director Brad Lewis unleash amazing action sequences. The James Bond-style spoof also ups the ante on the first film.

Perhaps a little too contrived for its core audience, Lasseter and his team keep the story barrelling along fast enough for us not to be overly perturbed by this.

While the first film was all about diners, pit stops and American nostalgia, this new outing is about the sophisticated world of environmental issues. Happily, the key message of both films remains intact: friendship is something to be treasured.

Adrian Drayton