Planes (2013)
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The story
Dusty Crophopper, a young crop duster plane working in Propwash Junction, Minnesota, dreams of becoming a racer despite the skepticism of his peers. To prepare for the prestigious Wings Around the Globe Rally, he seeks guidance from an elderly naval veteran, Skipper Riley. Despite his fear of heights, Dusty manages to qualify for the race. The competition takes him across the globe, from New York City to international destinations, where he must navigate various challenges and forge alliances with other aircraft while attempting to overcome his internal fears and prove his capabilities as a pilot.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Dusty Crophopper, a crop duster in Minnesota, dreams of racing but is hindered by his fear of heights. He trains with his friend Chug and seeks mentorship from Skipper Riley, an old warplane. After qualifying for the Wings Around the Globe Rally, Dusty travels to New York, where he meets allies like El Chupacabra and Ishani, and faces his rival, Ripslinger. The race takes them through New York, Iceland, Germany, India, and Nepal. In each leg, Dusty faces obstacles, including a sabotage attempt by Ripslinger and a moment of betrayal by Ishani. After a crash in the Pacific Ocean, Dusty is rescued and repaired by his friends. He eventually confronts Ripslinger in a final race to New York. By riding a jetstream, Dusty overcomes his acrophobia, defeats Ripslinger, and wins the race. The film ends with Dusty and Skipper being reunited and preparing to fly back home.
- First release year
- 2013
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Klay Hall
- Writers
- Jeffrey M. Howard · screenplay; John Lasseter · story; Klay Hall · story; Jeffrey M. Howard · story
- Cast and characters
- Dane Cook · Dusty Crophopper; Stacy Keach · Skipper Riley; Priyanka Chopra · Ishani; Teri Hatcher · Dottie; Brad Garrett · Chug; Julia Louis-Dreyfus · Rochelle; Roger Craig Smith · Ripslinger; John Cleese · Bulldog; Carlos Alazraqui · El Chupacabra; Anthony Edwards · Echo; Sinbad · Roper; Val Kilmer · Bravo
- Genres
- animated; sports comedy; children's adventure
- Themes
- overcoming fear; following dreams
- Tone and mood
- lighthearted; inspirational
- Setting
- Various global locations including Minnesota, New York City, Iceland, Germany, India, Nepal, and the Pacific Ocean.
- Premise and plot tags
- underdog story; aviation; sports
- Source material / true-story basis
- concept created by John Lasseter
- Franchise connections
- Cars
- Reception
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics but was a box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 26% · scale: percentage · review count: 121
- Awards and nominations
- BAFTA Kid's Vote · films · nominated
- Production trivia
- The production team interviewed several pilots of plane types included in the movie.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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