Cars (2006) - Animated/Family/Comedy
A heartwarming animated film that follows Lightning McQueen’s journey from a self-centered racer to a selfless hero, emphasizing the values of community, loyalty, and personal virtue
Overview: Family-friendly and light-hearted movie that your kids will love. Has some mischievous humor that your boys go crazy for, wholesome romance that emphasizes the importance of personal virtue & ethic, and friendships that teach the importance of community and a spirit of self-denial.
Recommended for: Kids-only movie night, Family movie night
Sex/Nudity/Pornography: NONE
Violence/Gore: NONE
Drinking/Drugs/Smoking: NONE
Cursing/Blasphemy: NONE
Virtuous Examples: 4/5 The major theme of this film is self-sacrifice and is exhibited in the transformation of the protagonist Lightning McQueen from a prideful racer who looks down on others to becoming a man of self-denial who cares for those entrusted to his care. This theme culminates in the finale where Lightning McQueen sacrifices his victory to push across the finish line an older racer– known as ‘King’– injured in the final lap. At the same time, the film does exhibit a lot of bad qualities before Lightning’s transformation that could rub off on impressionable children. Tow Mater is a bit of a caricature of middle-America in a rather crude (yet wholesome) way, and thus, is a bit of a wildcard throughout the film. Similarly, pre-transformation Lightning exhibits resentment for the advice of his elders, a materialistic outlook, selfishness, looking down on those he deems ‘lesser,’ and such. All of these are resolved by the film’s finale, but they are still on display.
Moral Lessons: 5/5: Movie follows the moral progress of the main character who went from being a selfish egotistical racer to a selfless generous man. He has a wholesome romance that emphasizes the importance of personal virtue & ethic, and friendships that teach the importance of community and a spirit of self-denial. Pro-middle-America film, promoting the broadly American cultural values that continue to be hollowed out in the name of ‘progress’-which takes the form of the new interstate system in the film. It shows Radiator Springs– the town the film’s story is centered around– being forgotten when the interstate is created, as opposed to the old highways which used to build community.
Tow Mater is a “redneck” caricature. While this could be viewed as making fun of such people, Tow Mater is incredibly genuine and selfless despite his ‘hillbilly ’ idiosyncrasies. He displays virtuous qualities like unyielding loyalty, humility, and humour, but he is pretty foolish. His portrayal is not meant to mock or demean rural people, but in the end without even noticing he teaches people great moral lessons. Just a clarification that not all rural folks are like that is enough.
Conversation Starters:
How does Mater show loyalty to Lightning McQueen throughout the movie?Can you think of a time when you showed loyalty to a friend, specially when things were tough, since that is when it counts the most?
How did Lightning McQueen change throughout the movie? When was he happier, when he was being selfish or when he was helping others?
Conclusion: This movie is amazing for instilling values of self-sacrifice and the importance of community in your children. It even contains subtle political messaging that is constructive for all audiences, boyish humor that brings out a twinkle in your son’s eye, wholesome romance that will inspire wonder in your daughter, and mature illumination of the American cultural values that will inspire discussion for older audiences. This is a must-see Disney Pixar film for all Christian conservative audiences!
Quotes: “When was the last time you cared about something except yourself, hot rod?... These are good folk around here who care about one another. I don't want them depending on someone they can't count on.” -Doc Hudson
Recommended for: Kids-only movie night, Family movie night
Final Rating: 10/10