We can’t escape “Cars.” The film, my least favorite of Pixar’s (well, technically “Cars 2” would win that dubious honor), continues to be so popular, mostly through merchandising, that Disney keeps putting it front and center. The latest way in which the company is doing so is with a new movie, due out this August.
The new film isn’t really a sequel or prequel to “Cars.” It’s more of a related film in the same general universe. The primary difference in “Planes” is evident in the title. “Planes” will be about the world that goes on above that of the one in “Cars.”
“Planes” has been in the works for a while. Disney first announced the project years ago, with Jon Cryer attached to do the leading vocals. Since then, the movie has been pushed back a little bit, upgraded from home to theatrical release, and Dane Cook will now be voicing the main character, Dusty Crophopper.
Another significant difference between “Planes” and “Cars” is that Pixar has very little, if anything, to do with it. The famed computer animation company is done with the franchise; “Planes” is being made/released by Disney Animation. There’s a lot of overlap between the two companies now (even just in 2012, Pixar released a princess movie and Disney released one about the secret lives of seemingly inanimate objects), but they are still separate. Disney’s just not ready to let go of one of its cash cows, and it’s going to keep making movies and parks and even hotels on the theme until it doesn’t make money anymore.
I haven’t had interest in the “Cars” franchise since the first movie, and I can’t imagine what it’s going to look like now that the people who presumably worked on it before aren’t involved anymore. At least “Planes” will introduce all new characters, and even a mostly all new world. The teaser trailer for the film focuses on what Disney knows is the primary appeal of the movie: cool flying vehicles.
The film’s plot is the typical Disney “little engine that could” fare. A big round-the-world race is coming up, and Dusty Crophopper wants to prove himself and win. There’s just one little problem: he’s not exactly built for racing or long flights. Actually, there’s an even bigger problem: he kind of has a thing with heights. With the support of friends and family, Dusty tries to gather his courage to show the world what a little guy can do.
“Planes” is due out on August 9, 2013. Are you excited for this film, or do you think you’re going to give it a pass? Or might you just go because your kids think it looks really cool?
*(The above image by HarshLight is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)