Mike's New Car is perhaps the worst short to be featured before Monsters Inc, a touching and original movie with a unique plot. Mike, the one-eyed side-kick to the big-hearted and fuzzy Sullivan gets a new 6 wheeled car that follows the principle 'Everything that can go wrong does go wrong'. So, everything from the seat to the engine, the windscreen, the mirror give a problem and Mike loses it.
Now the thing with a Pixar short is that it has to aim for the jugular in its first attempt. If it does not manage to pull the audience in the first attempt, it fails to a certain extent since most of the audience goes for a Pixar film not to analyze the film in terms of a film critic. The instant reaction to this short from me was 'Oh, this is predictable!'. Katedra, another contender at the Oscars failed to impress me on the first go but turned out to be fascinating on my second viewing. But it was a cryptic film made to be interpreted only after repeated viewings. Am I going to watch Mike's New Car again for interpretations? No, because I know that if I watch it again, I will be even more disappointed. The humor in the film does not work, as its tired. The music reminds me of a 60s sitcom where a lady in a simple dress waves her hand and meets neighbors- too goody-goody! The only humorous part was Sullivan adjusting the front mirror. The animation is competent though, but its Pixar and so that criteria is always fulfilled. But the short is forgettable and unworthy of being placed with the other contenders.
My rating: 4/10
Now the thing with a Pixar short is that it has to aim for the jugular in its first attempt. If it does not manage to pull the audience in the first attempt, it fails to a certain extent since most of the audience goes for a Pixar film not to analyze the film in terms of a film critic. The instant reaction to this short from me was 'Oh, this is predictable!'. Katedra, another contender at the Oscars failed to impress me on the first go but turned out to be fascinating on my second viewing. But it was a cryptic film made to be interpreted only after repeated viewings. Am I going to watch Mike's New Car again for interpretations? No, because I know that if I watch it again, I will be even more disappointed. The humor in the film does not work, as its tired. The music reminds me of a 60s sitcom where a lady in a simple dress waves her hand and meets neighbors- too goody-goody! The only humorous part was Sullivan adjusting the front mirror. The animation is competent though, but its Pixar and so that criteria is always fulfilled. But the short is forgettable and unworthy of being placed with the other contenders.
My rating: 4/10