Lightning McQueen, the racing car takes over the laps for the third installment of the Pixar automotive saga. Darker than its predecessors, the feature film somewhat abandons humor to offer a more in-depth reflection on mature themes.

Roaring engines, the smell of heated rubber and the adrenaline of racing cars, it is through this now-known cocktail that Cars 3 , the last feature film in the series, opens . We obviously find Flash McQueen (Guillaume Canet) accompanied by his whole gang in this new epic. The adventures he will experience here are fully in line with the first Cars .

After his brief off the road with Cars 2 , Pixar signs a new adventure that does not hesitate to put his hero at the end of the race. Flash, still obsessed with success, dreams of new trophies that will prove to be less accessible than he expected. His passion for victory will indeed be put to the test by racing cars of a new generation, led by the impassive Jackson Storm (Nicolas Duvauchelle).

Our flamboyant ruddy competitor will lose his superb appearance despite himself against this younger opponent. He will then have to rethink his way of running, if he does not want to sink into the depths of the rankings and see his career end prematurely. To help and support him, he can count on those around him, as well as on new encounters, including Cruz Ramirez (Alice Pol), a trainer overflowing with enthusiasm and energy, with occasionally surprising techniques.

As the film progresses, Flash will try with daring means to improve its performances, even if it means playing the strong-headed and neglecting the benevolent advice of Cruz. The latter is also a pleasant surprise, touching figure by her good humor and her deep sincerity. It also symbolizes the arrival of a new female character, in a universe that left them little room until now, with the exception of Sally.

The rise of Pixar studios continues
This animated film is another occasion to marvel at Pixar’s meticulous work. The special effects are superb. We marvel at the play of light on the bodies of the cars and the particularly realistic rendering of the different materials. Pixar calmly pursues its technological advance without forgetting to distill here and there nods to new technology (virtual reality headsets among others) but also to its previous works.

“The young people will make you understand”
A sample of Cars 3 had scared some parents with its dark side, giving the impression of the wrong audience. Although Lightning McQueen’s slump is sluggish, the film is still peppered with more festive episodes, acting as valves for the younger ones.

No doubt like any healing process, it takes time and takes it on screen. But before arriving at therapy, do you still need to know when to question yourself? The writers’ response is unambiguous: when the adversaries, and more specifically the young people, will take the place. It is in these moments that the film is addressed (almost) more to the parents than to their children.

From this theme, which stems from that of transmission, the people and sometimes parents behind Cars 3 will further delight adult spectators. The latter will recognize themselves more easily in these subjects than their younger siblings, for whom the retirement age is still anecdotal.

Cars 3 delivers a contrasting mix and doesn’t hesitate to dwell on
Flash McQueen’s stubbornness to seek empathy. To the point of making us uncomfortable, facing this hero who takes some time before realizing what is happening to him. The film returns with simplicity on themes already addressed by the first Cars . Apart from Pixar’s visual genius, we will undoubtedly remember the endless reflection on transmission, which will speak more to parents. The saga seems to come full circle.