Cars 2 parents guide

Cars 2 Parent Guide

Families with little ones who race around the house mimicking their favorite characters from "Cars" may want to wait until their tots have a few more miles under their hoods to see this.

Overall B+

Speedster Lightening McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and his tow truck friend Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) from Radiator Springs are heading overseas to the World Grand Prix. But there is plenty of action taking place off the track as well when Mater becomes involved in some international espionage.

Release date June 24, 2011

Violence C
Sexual Content A-
Profanity A
Substance Use C+

Why is Cars 2 rated G? The MPAA rated Cars 2 G

Run Time: 106 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

The creative minds at Pixar appear to want their characters and fans to grow up a little. Last year’s Toy Story 3 was engineered for viewers that nearly matched the age of its college-bound protagonist. Now the follow up to one of Pixar’s favorite movies for little tykes is also better suited for an older audience.

In Cars 2, the loveable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) takes center stage in the plot after he unwittingly becomes involved in a ring of secret agents. These operatives are trying to crack a case of international espionage involving big oil and an alternative fuel source.

It all begins when the adventuring SUV Miles Axlerod (voice of Eddie Izzard) decides he’s finished with fossil fuels and instead wants to promote a new energy choice at a three race match taking place in Japan, Italy and England. He immediately seizes the attention of the self-confident Francesco Bernoulli (voice of John Turturro), an Italian racecar overflowing with suave style. The Formula car’s boasting on television about being faster than Lightning McQueen is too much for Mater to take. Determined to drag his best buddy into the competition, he gets McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) to agree to the challenge. (It really doesn’t take much persuading!) Soon the old Lightening crew is ready to head for foreign lands, with Mater in tow.

However, the red coupe is a little concerned his rusty friend may tarnish his image. And his worst fears are realized after Mater makes a visit to a Japanese restroom. A case of mistaken identity finds the naive bucket-of-bolts becoming the right hand wheel to British intelligence agents Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell (voices of Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer).

This spy-spoof adventure may catch parents of young children off guard when cars are tortured, killed and disposed of with a variety of weapons. Examples include a car tormented with a ray gun that eventually causes the fuel within him to explode. Another vehicle is seen as a cube of metal—obviously meeting its demise in a crushing machine. And one falls into the sea causing it to burst into multiple pieces. In addition, a scene at a party features vehicles guzzling what looks like alcohol, and a very excited Mater making a beeline for the bar when he is told the drinks are free. The point is, if you imagine these characters as humans, this movie would likely garner a PG-13 rating in the US, yet it still managed to be awarded a G.

That’s not to say Cars 2 doesn’t contain all of the quality of writing and visual elements we have come to expect from Pixar— because it does. As well, there are positive messages resulting from Lightning McQueen’s shameful recognition of his embarrassment over his best friend’s nature. It is even a good bet this film’s higher-octane storyline will make it more likely to appeal to adults and teens, especially considering the script’s lack of sexual content and profanities. However, families with little ones who race around the house mimicking their favorite characters from Cars, may want to wait until their tots have a few more miles under their hoods before taking them to see this computer-animated sequel.

Directed by Brad Lewis, John Lasseter. Starring Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Jason Isaacs, Larry the Cable Guy. Running time: 106 minutes. Theatrical release June 24, 2011. Updated

Cars 2
Rating & Content Info

Why is Cars 2 rated G? Cars 2 is rated G by the MPAA

Violence: The animated cars in this film are subjected to various violent scenarios. A car is held and tortured with a ray gun that will cause his fuel to explode unless he reveals secret information—he is eventually killed. (This weapon is used on other vehicles as well.) Criminals reveal a car that has been crushed into a small cube. A car falls from an oil platform into the ocean and smashes into pieces. In other scenes cars are captured and placed in danger. Characters are exposed to frequent peril, crashes and threatened explosions.

Sexual Content: A character makes a veiled reference to being embarrassed after watching a movie in his hotel room. Some romantic references are made between male and female cars.

Language: No profanities were noted.

Drugs/Alcohol: Cars are seen at parties, pubs and other social settings consuming what looks like alcoholic beverages.

Other: After leaking oil at a party, Mator heads to a Japanese restroom in a panic. There he encounters an automated toilet with comical references to scatological issues. After consuming spicy food he belches gas from his tailpipe.

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Cars 2 Parents' Guide

Was Lightning McQueen justified in being embarrassed by Mator’s behavior at the party? What is an appropriate way of handling a situation like this? What good things might we miss out on if we fail to include a variety of friends in our social circle?

 

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Cars 2 movie is November 1, 2011. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Cars 2

Release Date: 1 November 2011

Cars 2 zooms onto home video in the following packages:

Cars 2 (DVD)

- 1 DVD copy of Cars 2

- Theatrical Short - Toy Story Toon: Hawaiian Vacation

- Cars Toon: Air Mater

- Director Commentary

Cars 2 (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo)

- Choice of DVD or Blu-ray Packaging

- Two Discs: (DVD + Blu-ray)

- Theatrical Short - Toy Story Toon: Hawaiian Vacation

- Cars Toon: Air Mater

- Director Commentary

Cars 2 (Five-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy)

- Five Discs: (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + Bonus Disc)

- Theatrical Short - Toy Story Toon: Hawaiian Vacation

- Cars Toon: Air Mater

- Director Commentary

- Nuts and Bolts: A Sneak Peek of Cars Land

- World Tour   Interactive Map

- Deleted Scenes

- Short Documentaries

—Set Explorations from the Different Cities in the Movie

Cars1 & 2 are also available in the Cars Director’s Collection (11-Disc Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy)

Eleven Discs:

- Cars (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)

- Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)

- Cars 2 (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + Bonus Disc)

- Theatrical Short - Toy Story Toon: Hawaiian Vacation

- Cars Toon: Air Mater

- Director Commentary

- Nuts and Bolts: A Sneak Peek of Cars Land

- World Tour   Interactive Map

- Deleted Scenes

- Short Documentaries

- Set Explorations from the Different Cities in the Movie

- And More!

Related home video titles:

An arrogant and self-centered vehicle gets a taste of small town discipline when he is forced to repair the damage he has caused in Cars (the prequel to this film). Vehicles show human characteristics in The Love Bug and Herbie: Fully Loaded. Other naïve characters are recruited as operatives in Agent Cody Banks and Spy Kids.

Related news about Cars 2

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