Disappointing. Cars was excellent. Cars 2 is not. I just can't help but think that the only reason they made it was because of the merchandising opportunities - which are vast (just look in any toy shop). The big news here is: Finally Pixar have made a dud. It boils down to the fact that that Mater is just not a very interesting character. In fact, scratch that. Mater is a really annoying character. He is fine as a bit part as in the first film, but give him the lead role and he quickly overstays his welcome. 

The only reason I have given this film 2 stars is because the animation is spectacular. The opening spy sequence and the panoramic city sweeps are breathtaking, but impressive animation just isn't enough if the story is this bad.
**

A suitably dark finale to the epic Potter octalogy that wraps everything up and ticks all of the boxes in terms of storylines from the book (but tries to do so a little too neatly). The actors seem to relish it being ‘the last time’ (what with various long awaited deaths, long awaited kisses and long-awaited confrontations) and really get their teeth stuck in, in many cases, bringing real pathos to their portrayals (has anyone come out of this series better than Alan Rickman?). Worthy too, is the tone of the film: dark and creepy with a crescendoing tension that builds to the final wand-off. And yet, sadly, the climax is all a bit drab and flabby. When Harry does finally confront old Voldemort (who perfected the gutteral agonised scream, but certainly seemed to overuse it… how can a character evolve if he is always just seriously pissed off?) and polish him off (did you really think he wouldn’t?) he doesn’t explode into a cool eruption of wizardy evil flame and black magic fire. That is what you would expect. And that is what you want. No, instead he wistfully flakes off into the wind. What?!? Yes. Flakes. Into. Wind. It reminded me off the rubbish and nauseating way they polished off that vampire bint at the end of Blade II. I just find it very hard to believe that the best way to bring to end this epic saga, this much anticipated fight, this showdown to end all showdowns, is with whispy CGI dandruff. 

And the very next scene is also worthy of significant gripe. Having finally killed this evil Lord who has been a plague on ALL of their lives and been responsible for so many deaths, what is everyone’s reaction? To mope around! No celebrations, no congratulations, just forlorn moping. Yes, yes, I know they are mourning for their fallen comrades, but seriously, not even a slap on the back, or an affirming hug from his bit of ginger squeeze or a “well done mate, you finally killed the bastard!” from a fellow Hogwartian? He has, after all, just killed the devil. It’s not like he has just sent an annoying bully packing, or swatted an irritating fly. He has killed the wizard devil incarnate. But no reaction or words of congratulations. Nothing! Just a good old mope. I can’t quite believe I am writing this, but it needed to be 5 minutes longer. It needed to show life after Voldemort, in both the land of wizards and the world of the muggles. And so, disappointingly, ends the saga.
***½