Dane Cook provides the voice for Dusty Crophopper, a small-prop plane with a fear of heights who dreams of competing in an around-the-world race, in “Planes.” Courtesy
"From the World of 'Cars'... 'Planes'... " advertises the unimaginative opening of Disney's newest animated movie, a project that should have been grounded from the start.
Instead, it was OK'd for a takeoff on the "Cars" concept popularized by Pixar, which is now owned by Disney. But "Planes" is plain old Disney, possessing none of the Pixar magic.
"Planes" was a Disney project originally designed for straight-to-video and it feels like it. This isn't a terrible movie, but it is a tired one, the kind destined to become what you might refer to as a "DVD baby sitter."
That would be a movie that a parent inserts and says, "OK, honey, I'm going to go start dinner, and I'll let you watch this because I know at age 4 you will watch anything."
With Dane Cook giving voice to Dusty Crophopper, a crop-dusting small-prop plane with high-flying dreams of competing in an around-the-world race - despite his fear of heights - "Planes" could serve as a little one's introduction to the "Little engine that could" storyline of "I think I can, I think I can..."
With Stacy Keach voicing Skipper, a Corsair fighter aircraft, and grumbling his way through the role of curmudgeonly mentor who trains Dusty for the race, "Planes" could serve as a little one's introduction to this plot device and probably induce them to one day say, while watching "Rocky" for the first time, "Hey, that old guy Mickey reminds me of Skipper from 'Planes.' "
Cue the cringe.
The message behind Dusty's good-natured character - I'm just trying to prove that maybe I can do more than I was built for - is certainly a solid one. I'm just grateful that Cook plays the role straight without adding any of his moronic comedy stylings to the little plane with eyes where a windshield should be.
"Planes" is very sweet, mild and boring. The story and the dialogue are so simplistic and uninteresting that no actor is able to stand out. I would have thought it impossible if you had told me in advance that, among others, John Cleese would be voicing a de Havilland DH.88 Comet, a British air racer who comes to see that Dusty is a nice guy who might not finish last in the race.
The only other voice I knew immediately upon hearing it was race commentator Brent Mustangburger. Now that's funny.
It's also about as funny as "Planes" ever gets, which will make adults further cringe when this Christmas they are asked to buy "Planes" planes. Or comforters. Or backpacks. Or....
If this is "Disney magic," the illusion is wearing thin.
‘PLANES’
Cast: voices of Dane Cook, Teri Hatcher, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Theaters: (3-D) Cinemark Tulsa, Promenade, Cinemark Broken Arrow, Starworld 20, Owasso, Sand Springs (2-D) RiverWalk, Eton Square, Admi- ral Twin Drive-in
Running time: 1 hour, 32 minutes
Rated: PG (some mild action and rude humor) Quality: •• (on a scale of zero to four stars)
Michael Smith 918-581-8479
michael.smith@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Stuck on autopilot
‘PLANES’
Cast: voices of Dane Cook, Teri Hatcher, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Theaters: (3-D) Cinemark Tulsa, Promenade, Cinemark Broken Arrow, Starworld 20, Owasso, Sand Springs (2-D) RiverWalk, Eton Square, Admi- ral Twin Drive-in
Running time: 1 hour, 32 minutes
Rated: PG (some mild action and rude humor) Quality: •• (on a scale of zero to four stars)
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