Look at banner, Michael [Wazowski]!

I don't love it, @avclub-63706c2231765ca840e9a60a76fae00a:disqus !

As Sims will happily, eagerly, unpromptedly tell you, he grew up in the U.K.

One could mount a much more thorough defense of Jess, but I only have time for this: Jess is much more tolerable if you think of him as that boyfriend or girlfriend you once had who was all wrong, but who you still think of with fondness depite how terrible you were for each other. Rory was NEVER going to end up with…

I'm going to be really petty here: I think Matt Czuckhgrtzxry was too short for me to ever really cotton to him. And I'm a straight dude.

They inspire three very different varieties of hatred.

Mildly agree, I just don't go crowing about it.

I remember that Ebert LOVED Cars. he responded to the warmly nostalgic evocation of mid-20th century west coast freeway culture. I get it.

I posted something like this above — CARS 2 certainly has plenty of problems, but the sheer number of commenters who equate it with waterboarding or fingernail torture is so overblown and ridiculous. "How DARE they expect me to enjoy a lightweight spy adventure!!! GOOD DAY!"

*pfft* A guy who's actually seen the movie? Get lost!

Well said @avclub-454a7bfd685393329597fdb7a92b7969:disqus . The offenses of a film like CARS 2 tend to be overstated, but that film is nevertheless Exhibit A in the case that Pixar is in a bit of a lull, creatively.

You know, I've always suspected that I might like UP slightly more (I like it OK, but seemingly less than most folks do) if I hadn't seen it in 3D. 3D always leaves me grumpy and wishing I had seen the "real" version instead (and also with a headache), which works against any fondness you might otherwise build up.

I pretty much agree with you @disqus_NLoJoQC0VE:disqus , though in the end I still liked it well enough. It was so scattered that it kept me at a remove, but there was still enough there to enjoy.

I can't believe I'm endeavoring to offer a tepid defense of CARS 2, but there's a very wide and consistently ignored gulf between "lightweight offering from the usually more ambitious Pixar" and "abomination". We all dislike LtCG. Yes yes. And the cars universe has limited appeal to those over the age of 10. Sure. And…

It's got that section where they slog around the jungle for what feels like an hour. That section costs the movie a whole grade for me.

@avclub-ea93d61158b479315c8e0d4cd003ec35:disqus , I feel like you and I represent some kind of perfect opposite-ness. For the safety of the space-time continuum, we must never cross paths.

Todd, that story is simply incredible. That's the kind of thing you and your friends dine out on for years.

The riffing is usually where the gold is, but "It stinks!" is one example where I remember bursting out laughing at the movie itself. Thanks for reminding me to constantly say this!

Even Howard's specific line was funny — "me an' my brother up in the rafters - we seen the whole thing!"

Or at least a loud and expensive one.