 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Cars
- Review Date: October 15, 2006
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Pixar comedy is full of four-wheeled fun.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the car characters do some pretty raucous racing, careening off walls, trees, and each other. A group of The Fast and the Furious-style vehicles briefly threaten another car. Cars argue with one another, lose their tempers, and look sad or lonely. There's some innocent flirtation between boy and girl cars. Some mild language -- at least one use of "hell." At 116 minutes, it's on the long side for animation and may be too much for some really little kids. But stick around for the closing credits!
What's the story?
As his name suggests, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is all about speed. A hotshot red stock car who's poised to be the next champion -- Lightning wants to win the coveted Piston Cup. As the movie begins, he hits the track in a race against two legendary race cars. A dead-heat finale sends these three key contenders off to a showdown. Lightning boards his transport truck Mack (John Ratzenberger) and aims west along Route 66, but he's sidetracked when he falls off the truck in a small town where he meets his life teachers, including Sarge the reveille-playing, surplus-selling Jeep (Paul Dooley), Ramone the hyper-detailed lowrider (Cheech Marin), and new best friend, Mater the tow truck (Larry the Cable Guy) provides the requisite proud-to-be-a-redneck jokes. Sentenced to community service, Lightning tries to escape but eventually gives in. Lightning grumbles on the night shift, but by day, he discovers the beauty of the western landscape, all big skies and grand canyons, the sort of mythic imagery that, according to the movie's nostalgia, families once drove across country to consume.
Is it any good?
Colorful and often charming, CARS renders its nostalgia for a mythic past via state-of-the-art technologies. But once Lightning settles into the small town, the door opens for marketing opportunities. The film reframes many youthful fancies as consumable objects, ensuring that movie and NASCAR tie-in products will be in circulation.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the relationship between the old cars and the newer ones. They have different values. How does the film set up a choice between the current era (selfishness, commercial and celebrity culture run rampant) and a more ethical-seeming past (Doc embodies patience, skill, and dedication to community)?
How does Lightning learn to appreciate and also, conveniently, enhance that simpler life?
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AGE
Inappropriate inuendos
I have to admit that I didn't even make it through this whole movie. My son is 2.5 and I am not sure when I will allow this one. It was easy for me to figure out that it is not for young audience when I saw the scene where a female car "flashes" her headlights at Lightning McQueen. I am sure that will go WAY over the head of most young ones. But Why even put that in the movie??? SO inappropriate. So when the review here says "mild flirting" I have to disagree. I would call that sexual in nature.
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AGE
Name calling used is NOT okay.
The name calling in this movie is not appropriate. I am surprised it is rated G. Here are quotes from the movie:
"You Idiot"
"You Fool"
"You're Stupid"
"You Moron"
"What an Idiot"
"Hillbilly Hell"
"Tractors are so dumb"
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AGE
Love this one!
A few bad words said during the movie such as moron & hell might turn some parents off. I like to watch the movie with my daughter to point out that when the characters say stuff such as moron that it's mean & wrong to call others names. Now she actually tells me about the cars that are naughty and those that are "good". She has never once repeated one of those words and we've seen the movie over 20 times. Also in response to another person's review....I believe that car at the end of the movie says "For the love of CHRYSLER...." not Christ. I agree with some people saying the tractor tipping scene is a bit scary but it is very brief lasting only a minute or two. "Cars" sends good messages like how to be a good friend, don't be selfish, and that we should give to others. Also shows that you should play fairly because cheating gets you nowhere. We love it!!!
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AGE
Great for all ages, we enjoy it as much as my 2 yo
We love it! My son watches it atleast twice a day.
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AGE
great!!!
great movie! i went to see this with my dad when it came out, and i loved it! i thought it was great, and other little kids will too. There is some flirting between 2 certain cars, but nothing goes beyond them gazing at each other, so that's nothing little kids can't handle. Overall, this is a great movie with positive messages and comedy little kids will love.
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AGE
Too loud, too long, too fast
I have my own personal beef with this movie because it shocks me how many parents I know allow their kids to watch it over, and over, and over, and the merchandise for it is inescapable. I can't stand this movie but my son and all the other boys we know love it. It is too long, too loud, and too fast... One can argue that there are positive messages that kids can learn from but I think there are hundreds of other movies with much clearer and more positive messages than this one. My son has seen it twice and asks every so often to watch it again but so far we've been able to steer him towards more low-key choices.
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AGE
Really Good For Everyone in the Family!
This was one of the VERY few movies everyone (my mom, dad, sister, and myself) went to see in the theater, and it was VERY good. It appealed to everyone in my family, including my then 4 year old male cousin who went and saw it three times after us! My sister (then 5) and myself also enjoyed it. It was overall a very good film with a good message. Watch it!
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Kid, 12 years old
March 25, 2011
AGE
I GAVE UP ON IT OK!!!!
Ok, If you are over 11 years old. You will totally gonna start to not like cars anymore. I never found cars to be that funny. Not even Mater was that funny. Yeah pixar does make great movies. This and Cars 2 are on the list of the worst Disney movies. Totally going to give all my thoughts on cars and cars 2 to my baby cousin Maxx who loves cars, when he is 11, I will give my thoughts on cars and cars 2 and then Cars will never be good for kids!
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Kid, 12 years old
April 9, 2011
AGE
Good creative movie
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| Topics: | cars and trucks, friendship |
| Studio: | Pixar Animation Studios |
| Directors: | Joe Ranft, John Lasseter |
| Cast: | Bonnie Hunt, Owen Wilson, Paul Newman |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 116 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 9, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | November 7, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
| MPAA explanation: | all audiences |
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