Planes: Fire and Rescue (2014): Dir: Roberts "Bobs" Gannaway / Voices: Dane Cook, Julie Bowen, Ed Harris, Stacy Keach, Teri Hatcher: Sequel to Planes where it examines new talents and the extremes one could go to exercise potential. Hero race plane Dusty Crophopper is troubled when he has a engine trouble where in the replacement is near impossible. When a fire breaks out they are under threat when containing it caused so much damage. Dusty decides to assist the ageing fire engine by going off to be trained to be a fire fighting plane. This plot is similar to Cars both in story and character yet it still manages detail. What is most alarming is the amount of fires that seem to pop up constantly keeping these vehicles with minds of their own busy. The outcome is easily predictable but the screenplay is surprisingly sturdy. Dane Cook voices Dusty and unfortunately he is the only character of interest in this scrap heap. Dusty is hindered of his passion yet finds opportunity elsewhere where new abilities are harnessed. Other characters are not so colourful. Julie Bowen voices a creepy female plane who seems to enter Dusty's space a tad too much. Ed Harris voices an ever familiar personality of a helicopter with a past that he tries to forget. Stacy Keach voices Dusty's mentor, and Teri Hatcher voices a forklift. Despite themes of courage and ability this film only exists to cash in on the first film, which in itself, was just a cash in on Cars. The animated characters are colourful but many of their personalities die like an engine that is long overdue to be replaced with something far more interesting than this. Score: 5 ½ / 10

Review: Although this movie was made with young kids in mind, I didn't really find it that funny and I think that the whole animated talking vehicle concept has been a bit played out. The storyline wasn't that great and the different characters became annoying after a while. Basically Dusty, whose plays the main plane in the franchise, has found out that his parts can't be replaced after his engine gets damaged. He then joins the fire and rescue team and they embark on a massive fire which they have to join forces to put out. Not the greatest concept from the animation giants, Pixar. I found myself drifting of through the film and I felt more patronised than entertained. I'm sure that the little ones will be bugging there parents for the toys but from an adults points of view it really didn't do it for me. Disappointing!Round-Up: After watching animated movies like the Lego Movie and The Croods, I really couldn't find anything in this movie to laugh about. I know that it wasn't made for people in my age group, but when parents have to sit through the movies with there kids, they could at least put something in them for the adults. I know people that are my age that like Frozen and they know all the words to the songs so it can be easily done. Anyway, I think the distributors obviously released this movie at the right time because it nearly tripled it's budget. There will always be a massive audience for movies in this genre but thats not to say that you're guaranteed entertainment, which I surely wasn't.Budget: $50million Worldwide Gross: $146millionI recommend this movie to people who are into their animated movies about a plane who can't replace his faulty gearbox so he joins the fire & rescue team. 2/10

29 August 2014 First film of choice at the Plaza Dorchester tonight - Planes 2 - Fire and Rescue. Those who know me know that I am passionate about aviation and animation, so put the two together add a tub of popcorn and I'm in heaven. Another splendid offering from the mighty John Lasseter at Disney, Planes, like cars before, has a play on ordinarily life but this time with an aviation slant. There are planes doing human jobs, all the buildings, signs, billboards, restaurants etc are all designed to accommodate all kinds of aircraft from single turboprop, airliners and the large rotating blades of the helicopters. When Dusty Crophopper - air race champion - is found to have a gearbox problem he thinks his racing career is over and he goes to Piston Peak to train as a firefighter. He meets a whole new gang of planes - each with their own huge personalities and he goes through many highs and lows to achieve his goal. The best lines from the film were from the parachuting groundcrew who when told by their transport plane ' I never understand how you can jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane' replied - 'It's okay we are just jumping out of you!' A good soundtrack too, look out for the line dancing fork lift trucks, and at the beginning of the film I spotted a British airways airliner in the crowd.

The story revolves around Dusty a lovely plane who learns he cannot race anymore as his engine is about to burst. Not one to give up he tries to prove he can still be useful.Whilst it is admirable for one to not lose spirits in the face of adversity the way this has been displayed in this animating adventure has proved ineffective.Dusty comes across as a stubborn plane who in his refusal to accept he is damaged and stay put manages to constantly endanger himself as well as other planes. There is a failed attempt, a telling off, then another incident and another etc... Given he cannot race he opts for becoming a fire-fighter but the problems remain, his engine is not up to the task. More failed attempts and endangerment.Whereas the spectacle/cinematography is acceptable the moral of the story falls short and given how the cinema was filled with youngsters something tells me it did not convey a very poignant message.