Cars 2 Agents on a Mission Tour Review

It's no secret that Cars 2 is likely to become the most lucrative animated film of 2011. Not only is it from CGI powerhouse Disney/Pixar, but it's a sequel to the beloved 2006 film. While Cars wasn't one of Pixar's bigger hits, it still earned $461 million worldwide and has become an absolute beast in merchandising. That fact alone appears to have overcome Pixar's reluctance toward sequels.

To get fans pumped for Cars 2, Disney/Pixar has teamed up with State Farm Insurance, Mack Trucks and Goodyear Tires to bring out the Cars 2: Agents on a Mission touring exhibition.

In addition to video kiosks, giveaways, a memory game – match the various Cars 2 characters in easy, medium or hard settings – there is also an online sweerstakes where ants can win 18,000 prizes, including a new car.

But it's three full-sized replicas of characters Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater and Finn McMissile that form the centerpiece of this exhibit.

"These cars were digitally recreated to be as close to the character designs as possible, using no off-the-shelf parts," explains Disney/Pixar spokesperson Christine Perez about the vehicles, which in fact were built on Model-T Ford replica chasses. "They have electric motors and a top speed of 10 miles per hour." The largest radio-controlled replica vehicles ever built, a 200-watt sound system under each car's hood provides the exhaust and engine noises. Visitors will be able to get their pictures taken with each character.

"Lightning McQueen's paint scheme is very different from the first film," says Perez. "It reflects the fact that he's now won 4 Piston Cups."

Perez complains that many visitors have confused Finn McMissile with Sally Carrera, Lightning's love interest from the original film. "But he's got a moustache and everything!" she exclaims.

McMissile (voiced by Michael Caine) is a top British secret agent who believes that Mater is a brilliantly disguised American spy. He's assisted by Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer), a younger agent who's just graduated from spy school.

"She's young so she does everything by the book," Perez explains, "while Finn is more experienced, breaks the rules and actually gets stuff done." She says Holley will not be a love interest for McQueen.

What's Cars 2 About?

The new movie follows Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) as he tours Japan, England and Italy in his quest to win the World Grand Prix. Accompanying him is Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), who commits various faux pas – such as when he tries to use a Japanese toilet – and gets caught up in a web of international espionage, courtesy of Finn.

Perez admits financial, not artistic, considerations fueled the Cars sequel. "Cars was such a huge hit for us," she says about the 2006 film. "Okay, it wasn't initially a blowout but it became even bigger over the years through DVD and merchandise sales." According to Perez, Cars is now Disney's fourth largest merchandising line after Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and Disney Princesses.

The new film is meant to address concerns that the original Cars was too Yankee-centric for international fans. "(Director) John Lasseter was inspired to go global with this film, and not just keep it a North American phenomenon," Perez explains. Original director Brad Lewis was relegated to assistant status for this film.

While Cars 2 is primarily aimed at the kiddies, Perez promises that adults – especially "gearheads" – won't be bored. "There's a lot of multi-level humour," she says. "Jokes that adults, not just kids, will enjoy."

The Cars 2: Agents on a Mission tour will visit 30 cities in the next four months, visiting Los Angeles in time for the movie's premiere on June 24th.

http://www.suite101.com/content/cars-2-agents-on-a-mission-tour-review-a365293