MOVIE REVIEW: Planes

GENRE: 3D animated adventure sports comedy

RUNNING TIME: 92 minutes

VOICES OF: Dane Cook (Good Luck Chuck), Cedric the Entertainer, Teri Hatcher, Brad Garrett

DIRECTED BY: Klay Hall

RATING:    

Currently screening at Ster-kinekor Northgate.

PLOT: Can a crop-dusting airplane win a race around the world?  Dusty (Dane Cook), believes he can. But first he must qualify. His friends, Dottie (Teri Hatcher) and Chug (BradGarret) explain that this is a race that requires speed, agility and engine parts that can withstand the world’s harshest elements. It doesn’t help either that Dusty is afraid of heights.

By default he qualifies and needs to enlist the help of Skipper, (Stacy Keach) a retired Navy Corsair.  He must also face derision from other competitors.  Dusty proves his worth and overcomes his fears, making friends as the journey evolves.

THE GOOD: I was pleasantly surprised at how often we laughed out loud. I also never expected to get caught up in the suspense.  Dusty’s win takes a while and doesn’t come easily. Crashes, air-stunts and near-misses are reminiscent of scenes from Top Gun, James Bond and the US Airways flight that landed in the Hudson River. Truly entertaining, however, is the dialogue.

THE BAD: Continuing with the Cars theme, this movie is hard pressed to come up with something new and many of the gags are familiar. The same story line, with similar characters and scenery, means that the only thing Planes offers is great dialogue, and even here, the wording is often lost on children.

VERDICT: Planes is nothing different, nothing brilliant and nothing new, but it’s a winner for kids and airplane enthusiasts. Lovers of animation will love it, and it serves as an exciting family outing, rather like… going to an airshow!

*SPECIAL THANKS TO STER-KINEKOR NORTHGATE WHO MADE THE REVIEW POSSIBLE.