It is no secret that I am a fan of Pixar films. In fact, I would go so far as to call myself an obsessive, having watched every film in their lineup with the exception of Monsters University.
However it is also no secret that I have honestly felt that the last few Pixar have fallen a little flat to my expectations. Cars 2 was exceptionally lackluster and Brave felt more like a Disney film than what we have come to expect from Pixar. However seeing as Planes was made by DisneyToons Studio, not Pixar, my statements thus far are rather pointless to the current discussion.
Planes is set in the same world as Cars and Cars 2, my two least favorite Pixar movies. It follows the adventures of Dusty Crophopper, a cropduster who…say it with me… dreams of being more than he was built for. He gets his chance when he becomes a part of the Wings Around the World race. He becomes the underdog of the competition and through...say it with me… his heart and tenacity, he comes out on top and shows everyone what he was truly capable of.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, this film is STOCK! There is absolutely nothing original in this plot. Not one thing in this story is a twist on the standard underdog sports story. If you've seen a sports movie, you have seen everything Planes could have to offer. There are absolutely no surprises, everything happens when you imagine its going to happens.
This film commits perhaps the greatest sin any film with any sort of association with Pixar could make - playing safe.
Not only has the story been done to death, but so have the characters. Dusty is the nice guy snarker with a big heart. Chug, is the stupid but well-meaning friend. El Chupacabra is the eccentric nutter. Been there done that.
Arguably, the most interesting character in the story is probably Skipper, Dusty’s grounded trainer, who essentially plays the same role that Mickey does in Rocky. In fact, his background is probably the best part of the movie. This is perhaps one of the first animated movies in either Disney or Pixar’s lineup to deal with a battle in World War II and it is very interesting and compelling to watch. Unfortunately the scene is short and the film doesn't do much with it beyond exposition dump.
While the film does look lovely (it looks like a Pixar film), the film just doesn't compare to what I've come to expect from either Disney OR Pixar. And the fact that this film announces a sequel, Planes: Fire and Rescue, in the FREAKING CREDITS doesn't help the situation.
Whether this film should have been direct-to-DVD or theatrical, I am honestly conflicted. The film’s animation is theatrical quality, the soundtrack isn't too bad (a bit too rock heavy, where Cars was a little too country heavy), and this has perhaps the first Disney/Pixar animated war sequence. But the film is stock and predictable as hell.
If you can find it, watch it. But if you can’t find it, you aren't going to miss much.
MOVIE RATING: Borrow/Rental
