Taglines: From this moment, everything will change.
Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is racing with his long time friends Bobby Swift and Cal Weathers (Kyle Petty). The three have mutual respect as they trade victories throughout the series. Whoever wins can count on getting pranked by the others, all in good fun. During one race, Bobby and Lightning are fighting toward the finish, when a car with a black body whizzes past them both, taking the checkered flag.
Lightning watches the replay on the Jumbotron, seeing Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) seemingly come from nowhere to beat him. Chick Hicks (Bob Peterson), Lightning’s old racing opponent, is now an announcer for the Racing Sports Network. He introduces his co-host, Natalie Certain (Kerry Washington), a statistical analysis. She explains that Jackson is part of a new generation of racers who use the latest technology to run faster than the veterans.
At the next race, there are six more high-tech cars, and they race with precision, cutting off Lightning at each turn. Jackson wins again, with Lightning finishing third. With Jackson piling up more wins, the announcers spend all their time talking about him, and how he trains on the latest simulators. Lightning finds out that Cal Weathers and the rest of the old racers have decided to retire or been replaced.
At the next race, it’s Lightning alone against all next-gen racers. After the last pit stop, Lightning has the lead, but it doesn’t take long for Jackson to catch up and overtake him. Pushing himself, Lightning tries to catch up, until one of his tires blows out. Before he can react, he is skidding sideways, and then gets launched into a barrel roll. When he stops rolling, a hiss of smoke comes from his engine. A fire truck and tow truck arrive to help, looking for any signs of life.
Four months later, Lightning is recovering back in Radiator Springs. He watches some old footage of his mentor, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), when he had a similar wreck. Lightning remembers his words, “You think I quit? They quit on me. When I got put back together, I went back expecting a big welcome. You know what they said? ‘You’re history.’ Moved right on to the next rookie in line. There was a lot left in me. I never got a chance to show ’em.”
Sally (Bonnie Hunt) greets him, and he tells her he doesn’t want to be forced into retiring, like Doc, but he can’t keep doing the same thing that hasn’t been working. She tells him to try something new, and not be afraid of failure, but of never having the chance. Lightning’s best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) shows up, and Lightning tells him that he’s ready to start training again. But first he needs to talk to Rusty (Tom Magliozzi) and Dusty (Ray Magliozzi), the owners of Rust-Eze, Lightning’s sponsor.
At Flo’s V-8 Cafe, Lightning calls them and says that he wants to train like Jackson, and they say they’re ahead of him, and they’re opening the new Rust-eze Racing Center. Mack (John Ratzenberger) gets him into his trailer and drives him out to the center. When he arrives, Rusty and Dusty are there to greet him, and they tell him they sold Rust-eze to a car named Sterling (Nathan Fillion).
He greets Lightning and shows him a wall that has all his career highlights in pictures. He tells Lightning that it’s time for a new look. He gives Lightning an electronic suit that can track his speed and vital signs. Showing Lightning around, Sterling takes him to the race simulator. Sterling introduces him to his trainer, Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo). Cruz is coaching cars on treadmills, coaxing them to reach their top speed. When she sees Lightning, she calls him her senior project.
Cars 3 is a 2017 American 3D computer-animated sports comedy-drama film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Brian Fee in his directorial debut, the screenplay was written by Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson and Mike Rich. The film is the sequel to Cars and Cars 2. The returning voices of Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Larry the Cable Guy are joined by Cristela Alonzo, Chris Cooper, Armie Hammer, Nathan Fillion, Kerry Washington and Lea DeLaria, in addition to a dozen NASCAR personalities.
The film was released on June 16, 2017, has grossed over $383 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews, with many critics considering it an improvement over its predecessor, as well as praising its emotional story and animation.
Cars 3 (2017)
Directed by: Brian Fee
Starring: Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Chris Cooper, Armie Hammer, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Nathan Fillion, Lea DeLaria, Kerry Washington, Margo Martindale, Bonnie Hunt, Darrell Waltrip
Screenplay by: Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson, Mike Rich
Production Design by: William Cone, Jay Shuster
Cinematography by: Jeremy Lasky, Kim White
Film Editing by: Jason Hudak
Art Direction by: Craig Foster
Music by: Randy Newman
MPAA Rating: G for all audience.
Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios
Release Date: June 16, 2017
