In Cars 2, Pixar reprises the cast of Cars. But the champion racer Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) steps aside so the story can focus on his dimbulb tow truck buddy Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). The inspired plot sends up the James Bond genre with wonderfully Bondish British spies voiced by Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer.
I am a huge fan of Pixar. Pixar understands that the best animation in human history is not enough by itself, and also makes the effort to tell great, great stories. Pixar screenwriting is incredibly superior to that of other animation studios. Despite that, I wasn’t a big fan of Cars. In fact, Cars and Ratatouille have been the only Pixar films that haven’t made my Best of the Year lists.
I liked Cars 2 much better than Cars because of the Bond spoof. If you have kids, don’t miss it.