A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Educational Value
a little
This is an entertaining film rather than an educational one, but there are lessons about the importance of learning from your elders and believing in yourself. There's also a strong female-empowerment message.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Positive messages about "female" cars being able to race alongside "male" cars can be translated into encouraging girls to try things that may usually be done by boys/men. Also strong messages about how important experience and mentorship are to younger, newer cars (and people); even the young and talented have something to learn from the wise and experienced. Don't fear failure; be afraid of not having a chance to do something you dream of/want to do. Be in charge of your own destiny. You don't need to win to be a hero; sometimes knowing when to quit is more important. Progress and change are positive forces; we see value of moving forward and being adaptable. Themes include perseverance and communication, teamwork and the value of empathy and mutual respect.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Lightning McQueen shows how persistent and focused he can be to get back into racing. He's dedicated to making a comeback but also sensitive (eventually) to Cruz's desire to learn about racing. Cruz is demanding and smart-mouthed at first, making ageist jokes toward McQueen, but her apparent pushiness is shown to be driven by passion and determination. Her flaws and insecurities make her relatable, and she's ultimately encouraging and kind. Sally is supportive but also tough-talking to make sure Lightning knows it's time to get to work. Mater is once again a loyal best friend. Female car characters are encouraged to race. Storm is conceited and rude but learns some lessons, as does materialistic Sterling. Lightning McQueen's original team from Radiator Springs are all loyal and selfless in their efforts to support him. Legendary racers Miss Fritter and Lou Nash are admirable role models, funny, fearless, and respected.
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Diverse Representations
some
Tackles themes around aging with confidence and positivity and champions older characters, who are voiced by older actors. Most characters are car equivalent of straight White men, but the smaller number of female characters make a big impact; they're presented as intelligent, funny, resilient, determined, successful, respected. Ethnic diversity is briefly touched upon when Latino character Cruz Ramirez talks about growing up feeling like she didn't belong. Her character later triumphs as a worthy successor to Lightning McQueen. Characters drawn from stereotype include the spaced-out hippie, the "simple" Southerner, and Italians with exaggerated accents.
Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Lightning McQueen is seriously injured during an intense crash that involves flips, skids, sparks flying, and lots of damage -- but he's fully rehabbed. Demolition derby sequence includes fire and aggressive vehicles (including large, former emergency and public-use vehicles like an ambulance and school bus) purposely crashing into and running over one another and Lightning and Cruz. One bus has chains and saws protruding from her frame and can spit fire. Flashbacks to Doc Hudson crashing during a race. Lightning crashes while using a training simulator. Even when there aren't crashes, race scenes can be intense as cars maneuver around each other and sometimes confront each other. Tense exchanges/arguments.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
none
Sally and Lightning say "I love you."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Language
very little
Infrequent use of words including "dang," "loser," "shut up," "dang," "keister," "dadgum," "dummy," "butt," and "jerk." Lightning says "life's a beach."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Products & Purchases
some
No real product placements in movie (aside from car models like Volkswagen, Dodge, Porsche), but there's a ton of Disney merchandise featuring Cars-related toys and other tie-ins -- like Lego kits, stuffed animals, coloring books, figurines, home accessories, games, and apparel. A conversation between Sterling and Lightning McQueen negatively (and perhaps ironically) glamorizes consumerism and wealth, with Sterling boasting about merchandising and saying, "We'll be rich beyond belief."
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
In a saloon/pub, race cars gather and enjoy undetermined drinks (presumably of something oil related). Brief reference to running moonshine.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Cars 3 is part of Pixar's popular movie franchise about a world of talking, human-like vehicles. The star-studded voice cast, led by Owen Wilson, returns for a threequel that's much more diverse and uplifting (not to mention less violent) than the last installment, Cars 2. That said, while language, romance, and drinking and smoking are all minimal, be ready for a couple of intense crash/demolition derby scenes in which main characters are damaged, in danger, or afraid of aggressive vehicles (one even deploys spinning saws). But the characters learn key life lessons, and there are positive messages about the importance of finding wise, supportive mentors (like the dearly departed Doc Hudson); the idea that no matter how old you are, you always have more to learn; and the fact that regardless of your gender or what you look like, you should be allowed to compete and reach for your dreams. Overall, this is a great pick for car fans of all ages. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
CARS 3 follows famous race car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) as he transitions from the peak of his career to dealing with younger, faster, higher-tech rivals who obviously want him to retire and get out of the way. Lightning is used to his regular competitors -- but then hotshot upstart Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) beats everyone in a race. As a "next-gen" race car, Storm trains inside, maximizing his features for speed and practicing on expensive simulators. After Storm wins several races in a row, Lightning pushes himself too hard and ends up injured in a serious crash. He retreats from the world for a few months, but eventually he agrees with his partner/lawyer, Sally (Bonnie Hunt), and best friend, Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), that it's time to make a comeback. With the help of a new and improved Rusteze training facility and personal trainer Cruz Ramirez (comedian Cristela Alonzo), Lightning has only a few weeks to get ready for the big race that will determine whether he'll keep racing ... or retire for good.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the messages in Cars 3. Why is confidence a vital part of competition/sports? What does Sally mean when she tells Lightning, "Don't fear failure -- be afraid of not having the chance"? Why do you think Cruz feels that she doesn't belong in a race? Do you think the movie is trying to make a point about females competing alongside males? Why does Storm initially dismiss her as a competitor?
Which parts of the movie were scary? Why? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
Which characters are role models? How do they demonstrate perseverance and communication? Why are those important character strengths?
Why is it so important to Lightning that he be the one to decide when he's done racing? What does he learn over the course of the movie? What do you think he'll do next?
Kids: What made you want to see this movie? The story, or the ads and product tie-ins? Do you want things more when Cars characters are on them? At what age do kids understand what marketing and advertising are?
