Cars 2 and the Transformation of Mater

by Vincent Y.
(New England)

Overall, I found Cars 2, as a whole, to be quite enjoyable. It contained all the joy, excitement, and good times I have come to expect from a Pixar film, and was a pleasure to watch. I liked it a slight bit less than the original Cars, but it was still an enjoyment to watch.

As for my favorite part of the film, I would probably have to say that is the "spy work" parts done by Mater the tow truck. I found these some of my favorite scenes in the entire movie because they helped to really flesh out the character of Mater.

In the first movie we learn a good deal about the rusted tow truck, about his life, and about who he is as a character. However, at the same time, he never really rose above the importance of being a side character or a sidekick. He was always Lightning McQueen's friend, playing off of McQueen, reacting based upon what McQueen was doing. However, in Cars 2, we get to see him as more of a standalone character.

We get to see his personality and traits not in relation to Lightning McQueen, but rather as who the true Mater is. We get to see him deal with adventure, danger, spying, and even love. While the first film was about McQueen and his quest to change from an egotistical person (okay, car) into a better, more caring and wholesome one, the second film is about Mater as he comes into his own and learns to stand up for himself and function on his own terms.

Through the efforts to take down Zundapp's evil plans, to trying to save the day and his friends, to dealing with the emotion known as love, Mater changes from that sidekick character into a full-blooded main character.