Pixar is ready to race back into theaters this weekend with the release of its long-awaited sequel, Cars 2.
The feature, directed by Pixar and Disney Animation creative chief John Lasseter, is set to roar into more than 4,100 cinemas — many of them in stereoscopic 3D and 3D IMAX.
In case you’ve missed it, here’s the trailer for Cars 2:
Like any Pixar film, Cars 2 is being greeted with plenty of positive reviews. But unlike most Pixar films, there are plenty of counterpoints. Read the positive here, here and here; alternative views can be found here and here.
The Animation Magazine feature story on the making of Cars 2 can be found here: www.animationmagazine.net/features/on-the-autobahn-of-fun/.
A flurry of press has made it hard to miss reading either an interview with Lasseter or a story about the immense marketing push behind the movie.
And don’t forget that showings of Cars 2 include the Toy Story Toon short Hawaiian Vacation, as well as the first teaser trailer for the studio’s much-anticipated summer 2012 release, Brave.
Taking on the Cars 2 onslaught is the raunchy, R-rated comedy Bad Teacher. Starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Justin Timberlake, the Sony/Columbia release is opening at just over 3,000 theaters.
Here’s the trailer for Bad Teacher:
Some major holdovers are still in play, as the market puts the legs test to the weak opening last weekend of Warner Bros.’ Green Lantern, J.J. Abram’s homage to Steven Spielberg Super 8, X-Men: First Class, Mr. Popper’s Penguins and the DreamWorks Animation feature Kung Fu Panda 2.
And the box office race will heat up significantly midweek with the Wednesday release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon in advance of the Independence Day holiday weekend.
