Wanna hear a secret? Of this summer’s two feminism-fueled blockbusters, Cars 3 is the superior model. Director Brian Fee and a screenwriting pit crew look past Cars 2’s violent, Mater-centric spy antics, and return the series to its G-rated roots—without sacrificing Pixar’s unique brand of life lessons that are applicable to adults and kids in equal measure. When a cocky, state-of-the-art racer named Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) threatens to erase seasoned champion Lightning McQueen’s (Owen Wilson) legacy, Lightning teams up with no-nonsense female trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo) to stage a comeback. Don’t dismiss the dreaded second sequel as a CGI Rocky IV clone. This is Cristela’s story as much as it is Lightning’s, an empowering and heartfelt lesson in overt bigotry, as well as the soft, insidious, dream-killing ideas that limit societal advancement. Through perseverance and teamwork, Cruz changes hearts and minds, beginning with her own. No superpowers required.
Listen to Kicking the Seat Podcast #231 to hear Ian and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie race to the defense of Cars 3!