Showcasing a troubling lack of originality and an overly simplistic path to victory, Walt Disney Pictures has delivered a catastrophic misfire in the form of Planes. And while the very young might be distracted by the abundance of color, anyone who understands what they are watching is bound to be disappointed as the film struggles to find its own identity.
At the forefront, Planes is a film that teaches one to embrace their weaknesses and always go after the big dream. But the film never fully explained itself as it fails to really focus in on the hardships faced by Dusty as he works to become a speed racer and race around the world.
Dusty, though cute, humble, and overly energetic, has a problem"”he's scared of heights. He is also a crop duster and has absolutely no competitive experience when it comes to racing. But all of that is simply glazed over as the film opts to spend more time on the race itself than the overcoming of odds side plot. Sure, Dusty doesn't fit in with the professional racers, and a former winner is dead set on ruining his time in the spotlight, but the message gets lost in the shuffle as the film itself doesn't appear to know the main point behind its own story.
Sure, the journey is interesting (albeit predictable). But how can you preach a moral lesson when the obstacles aren't laid out in the beginning. Instead of an inner fight with his fear of heights (something that Disney pushed heavily in the film's marketing), Planes merely mentions the handicap in passing, ultimately working around the problem instead of facing it head-on. The big reveal is lost in the shuffle as you can't connect with the underdog tale, whose race to the finish line feels anything but heartfelt.
At its core, Planes has great intentions. But unlike Cars and Cars 2, it lacks uniqueness. So much so that I began to question whether I'd already seen the film just half way in. And in a summer crowded with animated choices, that isn't something you want to hear.
