The Planes franchise is back with the sequel, “Planes: Fire and Rescue”, directed by Roberts Gannaway along with familiar voices Dane Cook (Dusty) and Stacey Keach (Skipper).
Last year’s original movie focused on the crop-dusting plane’s dream in achieving fame and success through self belief, but this time it’s centered around helping others and teamwork.
Dusty Crophopper is a well-known race plane preparing for the next big aerial competition, but his plans take a drastic turn when he finds out his gearbox is broken making him unable to participate in the upcoming race. Incapacitated and dejected, Dusty goes on a chaotic flight through town, recklessly pushing his limits resulting to him crashing into the airport, setting it ablaze. And when the veteran firetruck, Mayday, is unable to placate the fire, Dusty and his friends have no choice but to break down the water tower. Subsequently, the airport becomes shut down unless Mayday can acquire a partner to help in the fire department. Dusty unhesitantly agrees to become a fire-plane and with this, his real adventure begins.
Dusty flies out for training to Piston Peak National Park and discovers a family of firefighters including planes, trucks, and the helicopter-in-command, Blade Ranger. Quickly, Dusty finds himself inducted into this family of unique personalities, each using each other in delivering comedic relief. In the process of training, he witnesses the power of uniting and banding together to help others, which is one of the main themes of the story. But of course, a Disney movie like this has to have some sort of conflict. So when the antagonist, a selfish superintendent, decides to build a lodge and fails to evacuate his guests in time of a fire, the team is forced in a panic situation.
All in all, this is a great motivational movie for kids to learn about morals and teamwork. The story, although generic and overplayed, was straight to the point and didn’t waste much time in trying to gain laughs. In addition, the 3D graphics were an enjoyable element in the movie, not overdone but still very captivating; You bet your Aston-Martin that I would want to see this movie if I were a 7 year-old boy.
“Planes: Fire and Rescue” hit theaters this Friday, July 18.
