Cars 3 is the lowest-grossing entry in the series, but there is one big reason to love it. The movie fell short of any anticipated audience reception by confirming Lightning McQueen’s retirement to introduce Cruz Ramirez. Yet, Cars 3 arguably has the strongest plot of all three Cars movies from Pixar. The final installment is an exceptional conclusion to the trilogy and an apt end to McQueen’s character growth. Cars 2’s weaker narrative highlighted the difficulty of bringing the franchise to a satisfying conclusion in Cars 3.
The last chapter remains loyal to the roots of the Cars franchise and focuses on the rapidly changing racing industry and its indifference to the racing car — who is determined to retire on his own terms. The movie also has some remarkable visuals with a greater depth than its counterparts, which is one of the things that sets Cars 3 apart from the other two films. While it’s unclear whether Cars 4 will happen, a new addition could undermine the impact of Lightning McQueen’s character growth.
Cars 3 Showed That A Legacy Character Doesn’t Need To Be Killed Off Or Replaced
Cars 3 Concluded Lightning’s Story Without Closing The Door On The Franchise
Ever since the first Cars movie, Lightning has struggled with aging and what this means for his standing in future races. By the third movie, Lightning is overcome with worry about being unable to race, or risk continuing until he sees newer models begin to replace him. When he gets into a near-fatal crash, Cars 3 explores the legendary racer’s internal battles alongside his new trainer, Cruz. In a surprising turn of events, their dynamic reverses, and Lightning becomes a mentor to Cruz, which is a fitting conclusion that remains true to the essence of Lightning’s character.
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Cruz has plenty of ability to race competitively, yet has been confined to training other cars. If Pixar were to simply write Lightning out of the franchise, it would weaken the purpose of building the surrounding franchise around him. Instead, Lightning encourages Cruz to finish the race with his famous ’95’. This way, he remains in the franchise, but Lightning can evolve into the next phase of being a hero — a mentor. It is a remarkably clever choice by Pixar that allows Cruz to carry the mantle and continue his legacy, without replacing the infamous Lightning McQueen audiences have become familiar with.
Cars 3 Was The Perfect Ending For The Franchise
Cars 3 Mirrored The Events Of The First Movie
Cars 3 is the culmination of Lightning McQueen’s inner battles, particularly with the more daring introduction of newer models, such as Jackson Storm. It is incredibly rewarding to witness Lightning’s progression not only as a racer but as a friend. He learns that defeat is not about quitting, but using his talents elsewhere, which is worlds apart from Lightning McQueen in Cars. Cars 3 is a wonderful lesson that physical limitations are opportunities for growth and strength.
The callback to the original Cars enhances his character and sets the stage for McQueen to follow in his mentor’s footsteps.
More importantly, the movie’s ending was reminiscent of Lightning’s final moments with Doc Hudson in Cars. Doc’s influence on Lightning is profound. The King’s return to the Piston Cup as Lightning’s mentor was a pivotal moment that echoed the dramatic turn in Lightning’s own racing career. The callback to the original Cars enhances his character and sets the stage for McQueen to follow in his mentor’s footsteps. This results in Lightning ultimately realizing his full potential and confirming his status as one of Pixar’s best characters.
Cruz Ramirez Was A Welcome Addition To Cars 3
A Female Hero Was A Huge Step For Pixar At The Time
Cars 3 introducing a female lead to carry the torch for Lightning McQueen was a bold decision for Pixar. Cruz’s introduction to the franchise is still impressive, and it speaks volumes that Lightning doesn’t question her ability. He sees her untapped potential and views her as his equal. This is made stronger by Cruz not having to ask for Lightning’s guidance, he simply imparts his knowledge to her for when the opportunity arises. This opposed many of the traditional sports mentor/mentoree relationships that were in the media at that time, and Cruz represented a fresh take on sportsmanship tropes.
Part of the journey in Cars 3 is accepting that Lightning is not the hero, and watching as he comes to realize this, too. It’s important to acknowledge Cars 3 did receive backlash for its inclusion of the female car. However, the risk of dedicating so much of the story to Cruz was worthwhile as it was a crucial element in concluding Lightning’s journey. Aside from this, Cruz is a strong character who fits naturally into the Cars world. Without her involvement and her strong relationship with McQueen, Cars 3 would not have been as strong of a finale for the series.
- Director
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Brian Fee
- Release Date
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June 16, 2017
- Studio(s)
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Disney
- Distributor(s)
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Disney
- Writers
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Brian Fee
, Ben Queen
, Eyal Podell
, Jonathon E. Stewart
, Kiel Murray
, Bob Peterson - Cast
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Owen Wilson
, Bonnie Hunt
, Armie Hammer
, Lea DeLaria
, Nathan Fillion
, Kerry Washington
, Cheech Marin
, Cristela Alonzo
, Chris Cooper
, Larry the Cable Guy
, Margo Martindale
, Tony Shalhoub
, Jenifer Lewis - Runtime
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109minutes
- Budget
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175million$
