Although the prior installments failed to lift my heart, Cars 3 revels in team effort. It’s not a classic like Planes or its sequel Planes: Fire & Rescue. However, for an afternoon’s entertainment in a virtually empty cinema, it’ll do just fine.

Like Dusty Crophopper, racing car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) has reached a midlife crisis. On the track, his success seems assured until upstart Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) takes the lead and wins every race. In order to compete, McQueen will have to adopt a new strategy. That includes being trained by Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo). The latter always wanted to race but she never seized the opportunity.

Colourful and packed with sustainable characters, Cars 3 tends to borrow from another animated sequel, Toy Story 3. Both pictures seem preoccupied by legacy, exploring where these personalities belong.

Despite being light entertainment, Cars 3 burns with purpose. Every scene has weight, yet rarely in the overpowering sense. As a morality tale, there’s a worthy lesson for youngsters: Tough times call for faith that you can make a difference. The fact that this tip comes wrapped in a summer gift box makes it more appealing.

Overall, I dug the charms behind Cars 3 more than the previous entries. For that reason, the film receives a hearty recommendation.

(Released by Walt Disney Motion Pictures and rated "G" by MPAA. )

For more information about Cars 3, please go to the IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes website.