Cars 3is 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 3arguably has the strongest plot of all threeCarsmovies from Pixar.The final installment is an exceptional conclusion to the trilogyand an apt end to McQueen’s character growth.Cars 2’s weaker narrative highlighted the difficulty of bringing the franchise to a satisfying conclusion inCars 3.
The last chapter remains loyal to the roots of theCarsfranchiseand 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 setsCars 3apart from the other two films. While it’s unclear whetherCars 4will 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 firstCarsmovie, 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 3explores the legendary racer’s internal battlesalongside 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, butLightning 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 3is 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 inCars. Cars3is a wonderful lesson that physical limitations are opportunities for growth and strength.
The callback to the originalCarsenhances 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 inCars. Doc’s influence on Lightning is profound.The King’s return to the Piston Cup as Lightning’s mentor was a pivotal momentthat echoed the dramatic turn in Lightning’s own racing career. The callback to the originalCarsenhances 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 ofPixar’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 3introducing 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, andCruz represented a fresh take on sportsmanship tropes.
Part of the journey inCars 3is accepting that Lightning is not the hero, and watching as he comes to realize this, too. It’s important to acknowledgeCars 3did 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 theCarsworld. Without her involvement and her strong relationship with McQueen,Cars 3would not have been as strong of a finale for the series.
