The Movieland Report

Ok, this is a favorite for my three-year old son and most adults will see the title and think it’s just a kids movie.

It’s not.

Yes, it’s aimed at families and the young toddlers will like the kid-friendly car characters, but adults will like it too.

Cars, Pixar’s latest feature, contains many references to NASCAR and the racing world, so it will appeal to fans of the sport and there are many references to pop cultures that only adults will get.

The story, though, is about friendship and how one needs to rely on his or her buddies to succeed. Lighting McQueen [voiced by Owen Wilson] is a cocky rookie on the circuit, who feels he doesn’t need anyone for him to win. After the opening race, where his arrogance cost him a chance to claim the Piston Cup, he finds himself in a three way race for the championship the next week in California.

His crew then quits on him because of his abusive attitude and he doesn’t think very highly of his sponsor either.

On the way out to the West Coast, he gets disconnected from his truck, lost, and eventually tears up the main street of Radiator Springs. Sentenced to fix the road, McQueen learns something about friendship along the way.

Now the lessons and appeal to kids are obvious. The diverse cast gives viewers of all ages someone to root for. Even older waters can relate to Doc Hudson [voiced to Paul Newman], who learns the lesson of feeling useful again and Toe Mater [voiced by Larry the Cable Guy] is the comic relief for kids of all ages.

There are a number of voice cameos as well to keep the fully grown viewer interested and the extras in the DVD show the magic that goes into a Pixar production.

Rating: ***

But the DVD on Amazon.com.

With all the hype behind The Da Vinci Code, it was impossible for the movie to be as popular as the book. Yes, it had huge box-office gross, but that’s because all those who bought the book went to see the movie.

The real question is if the fans of the book will be as loyal to the movie and swat down their money for the DVD?

That remains to be seen and yes, the Ron Howard does have it’s high points, especially if you didn’t read the book, but also exposes the plot holes the book contains.

For example: It’s impossible for an albino to be an expert marksman, simply because those afflicted with the condition suffer from bad eyesight. Also, Dan Brown uses theories to support his own conclusions in his book, which at times are flimsy at best.

With an All-Star cast of Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Sir. Ian McKellen, you can expect superior acting and it’s there. But the movie drags at times, which is one of it’s downsides.

But one thing the movie does make you do is think. No matter what you believe, it’s the questioning of religion, which reaffirms ones own faith. This is clearly a fictional story and shouldn’t be treated as anything else, but if one goes leaves the movie with a clearer sense of their own beliefs, then Howard did his job.

Which is why one wonders why religious leaders are quick to condemn this feature. The questions it raises, brings one closer to his or her religion - Catholic or any other belief - not send someone away.

Overall, this is good entertainment. Not the best movie of the summer and not Howard’s, Hanks’s or McKellen’s best work, but a worthwhile watch.

Rating: **1/2*

Buy on Amazon.com.

Just in time for the holidays comes the next installment of one of the most popular DVD series to come out. Family Guy Season 4 [20^th Century Fox, $39.99, 315 minutes] gives the viewer the 14 episodes from 2005-06.The popularity of Family Guy comes from not the raunchiness, but from the popular culture satire contained in the episodes. The iconoclastic producers poke fun at everything from Star Wars to commercials like Sugar Smacks. They do it in a way that will make the viewer laugh out loud more than one time per 22 minute episode.

Even though this is a cartoon, it’s obviously aimed at a late 20s - late 30s audience. References from 1970s kid shows and 1980s TV shows and movies will trigger one’s memories of times past, while also exposing his or her deep down thoughts on those projects.

As a show goes, it’s kind of standard. The bumbling father, Peter, with the sensible mother, Lois, lead the band of Griffiths. The three kids are television stereotypes of those characters and the Brian the dog is the most sensible character of the group. The plots are also standard at best, but of course that doesn’t matter.

It’s the skit comedy throughout each episode with the “push the envelope” attitude of the producers, which make watching Family Guy worth it. At times you wonder how it gets on network television, but maybe the shows creators are wondering that too.

It affordably priced, so it’s worthwhile to pick up for yourself or as a present for the holidays.

Rating: ****

But the set at Amazon.com.