Cars 3 (2017)
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A veteran racing legend must find a way to stay competitive against a new generation of technologically advanced rivals.
The story
Lightning McQueen, a veteran racing legend and seven-time Piston Cup champion, finds himself overshadowed by Jackson Storm, an arrogant rookie representing a new generation of technologically advanced race cars. As these faster, high-tech rivals begin to dominate the circuit, many veteran racers face retirement. Following a devastating crash that ends his best season on record, McQueen must find a way to adapt and remain competitive. With the help of a young technician, Cruz Ramirez, he attempts to navigate the challenges of modern racing and the pressure of a changing sport to avoid a forced retirement from the Piston Cup.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a severe crash caused by the speed of his rival Jackson Storm, Lightning McQueen is forced into a training program at the Rust-eze Racing Center. He is paired with Cruz Ramirez, whose unconventional methods initially frustrate him. After a series of setbacks and a falling out with Cruz, McQueen seeks advice from his friend Mater, who suggests seeking out Doc Hudson's old mentor, Smokey. In Thomasville, Georgia, McQueen and Cruz reunite and train with Smokey and his friends, learning new techniques to overcome their limitations. At the Florida 500, a crisis occurs when Sterling, the owner of Rust-eze, tries to pull Cruz from the race. McQueen chooses to let Cruz take his place in the final race. During the race, Cruz faces off against Storm and eventually uses a maneuver taught by Doc Hudson to defeat him. Cruz wins the race, and McQueen becomes the joint-winner, ultimately finding a new team and a way to continue racing while mentoring Cruz.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brian Fee
- Writers
- Kiel Murray · screenplay; Bob Peterson · screenplay; Mike Rich · screenplay; Brian Fee · story; Ben Queen · story; Eyal Podell · story; Jonathan E. Stewart · story
- Cast and characters
- Owen Wilson · Lightning McQueen; Cristela Alonzo · Cruz Ramirez; Chris Cooper · Smokey; Armie Hammer · Jackson Storm; Larry the Cable Guy · Tow Mater; Bonnie Hunt · Sally Carrera; Nathan Fillion · Sterling; Lea DeLaria · Miss Fritter; Kerry Washington · Natalie Certain
- Genres
- animated; sports; comedy
- Themes
- legacy; overcoming obsolescence; mentorship
- Tone and mood
- emotional; determined
- Setting
- A racing circuit and various locations including Thomasville, Georgia, and the Florida 500.
- Premise and plot tags
- sports; road movie; coming of age
- Franchise connections
- Cars
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was praised for its animation, story, and emotional depth.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 59 · scale: 100 · review count: 41; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The production used a new rendering system called Rix Integration Subsystem (RIS).; The film features a tribute to Hayao Miyazaki's film The Castle of Cagliostro.; The film's score was composed by Randy Newman.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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