Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

ChampDavSlim The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Seraherrera The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Animated Antic Sequels to animated movies are common. We typically see one every year nowadays. It's nothing unusual. What is unusual however is releasing a sequel to a movie only a year after the predecessor which is the case for "Planes: Fire & Rescue". The first film was released not even a full year before this movie came out, and I was not impressed by it. I found it predictable, lazy and nothing more than a cash grab to the Cars franchise which is to be expected for a film initially intended to be released straight to DVD but was rather released in theaters instead. While this film is slightly better than that first movie, it's still pretty bad and I don't find it recommendable.Dusty Crophoper (Dane Cook) has been having a very successful career racing after winning that race around the world competition in the first movie. However, his racing career is put in jeopardy when his gearbox becomes damaged after being pushed to it's limit. Though that's not the only conflict in the movie. After a fire in his hometown, the airport there is condemned due to not having the proper fire equipment adequacy. Wanting to get his airport back on the map, Dusty decides to become a firefighter to help the airport and flies to a national park to undergo training from a helicopter named Blade Ranger (Ed Harris) as well as his crew. From their on out, the rest of the movie is predictable with ups and downs in terms of plot emotions as well as the many ways the film tries to show children about how park rangers put out fires.At the beginning of the film, there was a nice dedication to all the fire fighters who risked their lives to save others every single day. I'm glad that Disney went out of it's way to make a dedication like this, though I do wish it went to a better movie. Even though the movie is shorter than it's predecessor, it's so boring. The film just dragged on through it's predictable plot lines and added nothing new to give the film emotion. It relies on a lot of unfunny jokes including one scene where it makes puns on "Howard the Duck" as well as "CHiPs". Yeah, it made a pun on "Howard the Duck". That is just ridiculous. I also found the idea of going from a film about racing to fire safety really odd. I do like the idea of teaching children about fire fighters in national parks, but kids should be learning it elsewhere other than "Planes". The animation is a step better than the predecessor. Even though I thought the fire effects were pretty good, the animation is still not on quality with the levels set by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar and once again came off as amateur. The characters are once again bland. The new ones are the same one note personality traits you remember from the first movie and the new ones fit in that same boat. One character played by Julie Bowen really got me irritated me and sometimes disturbed me with her odd personality. The soundtrack also kind of got on my nerves. It mostly consisted of rock songs with one entire sequence blasting the AC/DC song Thunderstruck and I really have no idea why. Also like the first movie, it wastes a talented cast, most notably Ed Harris. I have no idea why in the world an Oscar nominated actor like him would sign on to do this cash grab, but then again, most actors just do it for the money.And I think that's the best way to describe "Planes: Fire & Rescue". Made for the money. The story is boring and predictable, the animation while an improvement is still amateur at best, and the characters are once again bland and cliche. I do feel that fire safety is important and teaching kids about fire fighters and their equipment is an interesting idea though I feel there are better movies, TV shows and books to show kids that have done this same concept.

Escudo25 I love this movie and the first one. I don't care if it's made for kids; I'm 30 years old and have a great time with these movies!What really makes me love them so much is Dusty. He is a kind, caring character who never puts himself before others. The voice work is really good as well, as are the aerial shots. The filmmakers go to a lot of trouble to depict the flying sequences with as much realism as possible.The plots are pretty basic, but that's okay. This isn't The Lion King or How to Train Your Dragon level of story-telling, it doesn't need to be.I want to see more adventures with Dusty and his friends. I hope they are making a third one!

omardangelo This is a very underrated movie that both my little one and I both enjoyed!There is a lot of action filled with fun and intense moments that was very entertaining. It's the type of movie we can watch again and again!Admittedly, it has the traditional formula of a dominating bully that loses out in the end, but for children it's a good lesson to learn.For us adults, there are humorous parts with flashbacks to our own youth that adds to the enjoyment.Being underrated just means that purchasing the DVD or Bluray will make it to the bargain bins very quickly.

Eric Fraser -for this wonderful film which has completely enthralled my 4 year old son. The Dusty Crophopper character is easily the big favorite amongst pre-school boys in our area. This film is better than the first, employing beautiful panoramic views paired with high action. The writers clearly understand their target market and if 4-6 year olds could write reviews, I'd imagine that the ratings for this film would be through the roof. This film explores the some of the same universal, time honored struggles that have concerned humanity since mythological times. These sophisticated ideas are communicated in a way to appeal to the cognitive abilities of a typical 4-6 year old. This is not an easy thing to do. There is an abundant use of allegory and metaphor and some aspects of this presentation are actually quite sophisticated. I do feel a little sorry for the stunted adult who is unable to recognize this. For most preschoolers, the initial draw of the film are the spinning propellors and rotors which are all used to good effect. For parents of mechanically inclined children, this provides an entrée for lengthily discussions about the make up of plane and helicopter engines and an exploration into how things work. The moral aspects of the film become a point for discussion as well.The score to this film is brilliant. When Blade tells Dusty about Augerin Canyon, the score shifts into a piano portion that is haunting, foreshadowing, evocative, and a little melancholy. I think of myself as a bit of a music snob (don't we all) and I have to say that this particular excerpt is the among the most beautiful new music I have heard all year. This powerful score helps to lend credibility to the reading of this fun little kid's film as also conveying a message that is both meaningful and emotive.The only complaint I have is that there are few female voiced characters in the film. The four I could discern include, Lil Dipper, Dottie, one of the smoke jumpers and a squealing little car at studio 404, being rescued by Blade in his old TV show. All the true major players are male. I would have liked to have seen a little more equity and sensitivity in the way that female characters were developed. Female characters don't always have to be 'Miss Piggy' obnoxious (Lil Dipper), usurped by a superior male (Dottie), saucy (smoke jumper), or weak and vulnerable (studio 404 car). I expect a little progress in storytelling from a studio that aspires to be on the cutting edge.Also, I noticed in the credits that a lot of the animation grunt work was outsourced. I would like for an American production to have sought to employ more Americans as a matter of principle. Disney will make more money than they need to on the licensing agreements alone, so no need to cut corners by outsourcing. If this film is as popular as it is in my kid's pre-school, their profit margins on this film, the merchandise and toys will prove to be astounding.