Cars 3 (2017)

Let's finish up the Pixar films with the final movie of the Cars trilogy, Cars 3.

The Movie:

Cars 3 is the 17th movie from Pixar.  It received much more positive reviews than the previous Cars 2, with a reception more in line with the original Cars.  However, it did not do as well at the box-office, having a smaller opening weekend and overall gross than the previous film.  Nonetheless, most fans felt it was a return to form for the franchise.

In the beginning of Cars 3, Lightning McQueen and his fellow racers are surprised when a younger, next-generation rookie by the name of Jackson Storm takes the checkered flag in a race.  Soon, all of the old guard is replaced by the next-generation racers, with only Lightning remaining.  Trying to push himself as much as he can, Lightning suffers a terrible accident.  After hiding out back in Radiator Springs for the off-season, Sally and Mater (and the memories of Doc Hudson) convince Lightning to jump back in, but the new season begins in just two weeks, so he needs to get into shape.  Luckily, Rust-eze has been purchased by the wealthy Sterling, who has opened a new high-tech training center.  There, a trainer named Cruz Ramirez has been tasked with whipping Lightning into shape.  Lightning at first doesn't appreciate her training methods, but then he starts to realize that maybe he can teach Cruz at the same time he learns from her.

Cars 3 is definitely better than Cars 2.  Like the first movie, it follows a typical sports movie formula, with this one being the typical comeback story, with a twist.  The plot is even a bit tighter than the first.  Cars 3 still has the same world-building problems as the first movie.  The new character of Cruz is enjoyable, and in fact, in many ways, this is actually her movie, and the story might have been even better had she been the focus most of the time.  This movie uses Mater a lot more sparingly than even the first Cars, as if it was trying to apologize for Cars 2.  I don't know if I can say that Cars 3 is better than the first Cars, but personally I think I enjoy it more.

Randy Newman returns to the Cars franchise for this movie, and his score for Cars 3 might be my favorite of any that he has done for Pixar.  There are some truly beautiful moments, especially during the scene where Lightning and Cruz first arrive at Thomasville.  There are also several pop/country songs on the soundtrack, including the closing credits number"Ride" by ZZ Ward.

Presence in the Parks:

Until recently, Cruz was a popular meet character at Hollywood Studios in Florida.  She is slated to be one of the featured characters in the upcoming new Cars show opening next year.