Good Movie - Blog Posts

I love it and consider it canon and over-hated.

I know John Lasseter had genuine intentions with it because he loves these characters. I’ve seen the commentary, interviews, behind the scenes thing,etc. He made this because he wanted to. Not because of toys, if it were than I think he’d also own them as well:

The point is that I love Cars 2, I waited five years to have seen my favorite characters again and meet new ones in whatever screen time they had.

There’s flaws, not going to lie, but I still appreciate the movie. When I know there’s flaws and acknowledge them it kind of makes me appreciate the movie more.

I never found Mater annoying. If anything he actually became an interesting character with his knowledge of car parts, how he’s very literal minded like someone with Autism or in the spectrum, and how he’s never really thought about how people see him and it actually does make sense. He’s never left Radiator Springs, let alone the flipping country so of course he doesn’t know exactly how these things. Especially since Lightning doesn’t explain to him exactly what to do and not to do. Not to mention, Sarge, Fillmore, Luigi, and Guido seem to be terrible babysitters if they can’t keep track of Mater for leaving!

Also Miles Axlerod totally started the Disney Villain Surprise thing that Disney’s been recently in the animated canon (King Candy, Prince Hans, Yokai/Professor Callaghan, Assistant Mayor Bellweather, and Te Ka). Except I think he does it best and is probably the most intelligent of all of them since he was pretty prepared if Plan A didn’t work he’d have a back up plan. He also doesn’t show up to his meetings, physically. He live-streams at the meeting and with both a disguised voice and body.

That’s Axlerod’s engine, but not his body color. This is Axlerod just after the crash in Italy:

That’s a darker, grassy green, than the more pale-ish, almost bluish green. The disguise itself must have been design for him to easily and quickly place it on while getting his clutch assembly fixed and then taking it off to go back into the public eye. That’s pretty damn prepared.

Axlerod’s also a pretty amazing liar since he fooled a lot of the characters, including a lawyer (Sally), the spies, and the in-universe media. However, it’s not an out-of-nowhere type thing like Hans as it was foreshadow in a much better way while still keeping it a surprise (in my opinion).

There’s also the fact that unlike the other surprise Disney Villains, he didn’t reveal himself to the heroes due to him thinking that he won, but because he was under the threat of death by Mater. Yeah if you think Mater was basically holding Axlerod hostage with the bomb on him and if he didn’t turn it off, they were both going to die! Keep in mind, Axlerod wanted Lightning dead because he chose the alleged alternative fuel Allinol and thus gave alternative fuel another chance to redeem itself. Since when Mater came with a clearly alive Lightning and accused Axlerod of being the mastermind, Axlerod’s plan at this point was busted. The most he can get out of at this point would be his life and what he made off of the World Grand Prix. But even getting out this with his life is a problem for him since Mater figured it out and isn’t going to let him get away unless the bomb is deactivated. Unlike the other surprise Disney villains Axlerod was at a crossroads of being screwed either way. If he didn’t deactivate the bomb, he would die, (and possibly the spies, Lightning, and Radiator Springs would be arrested):

If Axlerod did than he’d go to jail. Axlerod chose the one where he wouldn’t die.

Mater noticed the bolts that are attached to the bomb on him were also the ones ordered by the mystery engine. An engine that was specifically made for a British car model and one that uses oil. There’s also how Mater specifically says that he DOESN’T leak oil. Axle rod put the blame on Mater because he was literally right next to him when it happened and easiest car to blame, because honestly if Mater didn’t come at that moment Axlerod couldn’t have blame Lightning, as the oil leaker and thus would have somebody calling him out as either a liar or a hypocrite. If it were only Lightning and Axlerod up there and no Mater, who would you assume as someone who leaked oil? The racer or the former oil baron? That’s why it’s easier pin the blame on the silly, hick of a tow truck.

What I’m getting at is while some may see it as stupid cash-grab I do see it as something rather interesting and different, with thought and care put into it. John Lasseter WANTED Cars 2 to be different. He LOVED Mater and saw a lot of himself in the character. He WANTED to do this movie.

Can’t exactly defend him on Toy Story 4 though...

Reblog if you actually like Cars 2

I can’t be the only one out there!

Companion (2025) is a Great Critique of 'Nice Guy' Culture

1/31/25

Companion (2025) directed by Drew Hancock

*No Spoilers*

If I had to choose my favorite media trope, it would be the Relatable Robot. This trope has been used countless times, with later examples such as Terminator 2 and recent examples like Alien Romulus. Companion adds to this growing list, contributing a rogue sexbot that’s framed for murder, and despite being one month in, this might be one of my favorite movies of the year. 

Companion opens with Josh (Jack Quaid) and his girlfriend, Iris (Sophie Thatcher), who are going to a remote cabin to spend some time with Josh’s friends, Kat (Megan Suri), Eli (Harvey Guillén), Patrick (Lukas Cage), and Sergey (Rupert Friend). Iris feels off about the trip and bares a suspicion that Josh’s friends don’t like her. The truth is far more unsettling. After an unfortunate series of events, Iris discovers she’s a Companion, a robot made for subservience and intimacy. As she comes to terms with this truth, she must fight to stay alive and get home before her boyfriend and his friends murder her. 

All the actors were amazing, but the standouts were Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. Thatcher’s character, Iris, must accept some terrible truths while also doing whatever it takes to survive, and Thatcher does a great job making us feel for a supposed machine. I liked her the moment she insisted Josh say 'thank you' to the Alexa in their car. From bright and earnest, to badass and scary, her range knows no bounds. Iris’s one goal is to make Josh happy, but we can sense that deep down Iris is unsatisfied with the circumstances. Quaid’s character, Josh, is a difficult one to portray, because for the story to work, he needs to present as a harmless nice guy, who actually has something nasty and depraved lurking beneath, and Quaid did a great job. You can tell through Jack Quaid’s intentional choices and actions, Josh truly believes that he is the good guy, even when his actions are deplorable.  

This movie’s true antagonist is the ‘Nice Guy.’ Josh believes he is owed something for how ‘nice’ he is. He believes the world is rigged against him, and Iris isn’t enough for him because he ‘deserves someone real.’ He’s controlling with robots and he’s controlling with humans, and his arrogance and self-entitlement lead to everything spiraling out of control. I related to Iris’s character because I think we’ve all tried to find worth in someone else, and that’s what I felt when watching this movie. Iris believes that she’ll be happy if Josh is happy, she believes she’ll feel complete, and you can feel how desperate she is to really be loved and accepted by Josh. The power dynamic in the movie shifts when Iris begins to accept herself. This movie draws on themes such as consent and personal choice, and the ending brings everything together nicely. 

Final Grade: A+

Rick Stepp (irresponsibleink@gmail.com)