PLANES : FIRE & RESCUE – The Review

Wow, talk about your quick sequel turn-around. This weekend sees two follow-ups to surprise box office hits from 2013. For thriller fans there’s THE PURGE: ANARCHY (check out Mike Haffner’s review!) and for the kiddies it’s the return of that low flyer, Dusty Crophopper in PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE. And once again, the ads tell us it’s set in the world of CARS (as with last year’s flick, this is not from the Pixar gang, it’s officially from DisneyToon Studios with much of the work produced by Prana Studios of India). It’s clear from this new film that the makers will not need to piggyback on the earlier Pixar hit again. With this one, Dusty and his pals can stake a claim on their own series, because like the new Apes film still in theatres, this is a much improved, superior sequel.

The opening credits provide us with a look back at the first film’s events plus a recap of Dusty’s (Dane Cook) racing victories over the last year. He’s become quite the celebrity and is the home-grown hero of Propwash Junction.  And he’s to be the main attraction at the upcoming Corn Festival. Skipper (Stacy Keach) still coaches Dusty on his practice runs. One day Dusty barely avoids a crash when his engine cuts out during a climb. Dotti (Teri Hatcher) delivers a sobering diagnosis: his gear box is nearly shot, so no more rapid accelerations till they locate a replacement (it’s not being manufactured any longer). But Dusty has a stubborn streak, and that night, in secret, he makes a solo test run. And once more the engine conks out, causing him to damage the control tower and fuel tank. The antiquated fire truck Mayday (Hal Holbrook) fails to contain the resulting fire, which destroys most of the airport. The safety inspectors shut down the runway and threaten to cancel the Corn Fest until Mayday can be upgraded and paired with another certified rescue vehicle. Dusty is determined to make things right and decides to get certified as a fire and rescue plane. In order to get the training and testing he flies out to Piston Peak. There he meets the team: flirty transport plane Dipper (Julie Bowen), somber Windlifter (Wes Studi), the all-terrain Smokejumpers, and his stern teacher, the veteran chopper Blade Ranger (Ed Harris). Dusty tries to hide his gear box trouble from Blade as a raging forest fire threatens the Peak Lodge and forces the untested crop duster to dive into blazing danger.

Sounds pretty exciting, eh? In a smart move, the producers have left the “big race” setting of the previous flick for a more dramatic arena. Saving lives sure beats winning medals and trophies. With the higher stakes, the smallest viewers may be frightened by the threatening inferno that the crew must face (just like BAMBI and his pals). Kudos to director Roberts Gannaway and the animation team for providing terrific work on those flames along with a very dangerous set of rapids that lead to some equally scary falls. Actually there’s excellent work done with the design of all the vehicles (we even get a gorgeous old-timey train) and the opulent Lodge/hotel. Oh, and the 3D looks good, but it’s not essential in the enjoyment of this flick. Plus there’s a lot more wit in this script, especially when the Peak’s crew reveal Blade’s acting past to an awestruck Dusty (I’m still smiling over the dummy VHS box). The voice work is top-notch as usual. Cook is still pleasantly earnest and enthusiastic as the boyish hero. The standouts in the new cast are the delightful Holbrook as the grandfatherly old fire engine. And Harris uses a bit of his mission control gravitas as the taciturn, often gruff , no-nonsense chopper. Plus there are two wonderful comedy teams in great supporting turns. Christopher Guest film regulars John Michael Higgins and Fred Willard have a lot of fun as the smarmy Cad and the Interior Secretary. But best of all may be Ben’s parents, Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, as longtime married vehicles Winnie and Harvey who might have picked the wrong spot to celebrate their anniversary. This time out, there’s really a little something for the whole family. So, if you’ve got kids that have been bitten by the aviation bug head to the boarding gate over at the multiplex and take off with PLANES : FIRE & RESCUE.

3.5 Out of 5