Jay Snook reviews, and says “It is the perfect movie to see with the kids.”
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This film is worth going to see in theaters this summer. It came out on Friday July 18th, and it is the sequel to the Cars spin-off, Planes, which released in 2013. It is rated PG and has a run time of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It is a perfect film to go see with the kids because it has no adult themes nor does it have any dirty language.
The movie continues right where it left off last time. Dusty Crophopper is still a well known racer, and he loves to race as much as he can in all kinds of competitions. He enjoys this new life and has even become a local celebrity in his hometown of Propwash Junction. He even has his name on the water tower. Life seems to be going great for him, but one day this all changes. He has to make an emergency landing during a routine training flight one night, and finds out his gear shift is busted.
Because of this he finds out he may never be able to race again. If he pushes his engine beyond the red area on his speedometer he will crash. This is hard news for him to hear. All he has ever wanted to do is be a racer, and after such a short time it is taken away from him. He has his friend Dottie put a special part into his cockpit to warn him if he is going too fast. He doesn’t know what he is going to do with his life now.
Meanwhile the town is getting ready for the annual corn festival, which is the biggest celebration of the year. But one day a small fire breaks out, and the fire truck they have has a hard time putting it out, until he decides to break down the water tower. The authorities come in and ask Mayday a few questions and decide to shut down the entire airfield. They say if Mayday isn’t upgraded and another fire vehicle, of some kind, doesn’t comes in the airfield will remain closed.
After some consideration Dusty decides to go and get certified to become a fire fighting plane to not only help the town but to make sure Mayday isn’t out of a job. So off Dusty goes to Piston Peak to be trained by Blade Ranger. The road ahead for Dusty will be tough, and there is no guarantee he will make it. Right away he makes a bad impression on Blade by goofing up at a small fire, and this makes him not want to train Dusty at all. Will Dusty be able to find a way to prove to Blade that he has what it takes to fight fires? How can he even try to do such things? And how can he give his all when he has a bad gear shift?
Dane Cook returns as Dusty Crophopper, and he does a great job. He really knows how to bring out the heart and determination in this character. Whenever times seem to get too tough, he always is able to find a way to succeed. Julie Bowen voices Lil’ Dipper and although she is a tad odd and strange at times, she does make you laugh. The character is a big fan of Dusty, and although she does have a bit of a crush on him, she also wants to do all she can to help him get certified. Ed Harris was made to play Blade Ranger, he brings a hardness to the character that no one else could bring. The thing that is best about this portrayal is how once you get past this rough exterior, you find out there is a heart there that just wants to protect those he cares about. I loved Curtis Armstrong as Maru who is not just a forklift but the one in charge of all the repairs at the park. He takes care of any damages to the other planes, and he brings a lot of laughs to each scene he is in, but he does well in the serious moments too.
The film has a wonderful soundtrack, and special effects. The park is done very well, and although it is made for planes and cars and not people, it is not hard to imagine many places that are similar to it. There are many scenes where the music playing will either bring a smile to your face or will get you excited to see what is going to happen next. The supporting cast also does a great job helping move the story along, and no part dragged on or seemed to go by too quickly. The best scenes are when a fire breaks out. The flames all seem so realistic. The way the crew of land vehicles and planes work together is a wonderful sight to see. Everyone has their part, and when they work together nothing seems to be impossible. Once the film ends, it is hard to leave the theater without a smile on your face.
Sadly, the film didn’t do that well this weekend. It got the #3 slot and only made $18 million in the US alone. It has received some good reviews, but for the most part people are just not rushing out to see this movie.
If you liked the first film, it is worth checking out. If you are looking for a film to go see with the kids, this is the film for you. It is a film that does have a good amount of heart and has many good lessons for kids to learn about fire safety and prevention. Check it out, your kids will thank you for it.