Mike's New Car (2002)

Mike's bought a new 6-wheel-drive car, and he can't wait to show it off to Sulley. Only problem is, Mike hasn't exactly mastered the controls yet, and they're pretty complicated.

Directors:

Pete Docter, Roger Gould

Writers:

Pete Docter (story), Jeff Pidgeon (story),

Stars:

Billy Crystal, John Goodman

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Billy Crystal	...	Mike (voice)
John Goodman	...	Sulley (voice)

Storyline

Mike has a surprise for his pal Sullivan: Mike's gotten a new car, one with six-wheel drive. He invites Sullivan to hop in and they'll go for a spin. At that point, problems arise: first Sullivan's cramped, then Mike has a seat belt problem, gets locked out, and suffers indignities before Sullivan figures out how to unlock the car to let him back in. All sorts of gadgets misfire, until finally Mike has the car in gear, ready to roll. What was it again that was wrong with his old car?

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Plot Keywords:

car | new car | seat belt | surprise | locked out | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Family | Fantasy

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Details

Official Sites:

Pixar

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 August 2002 (Finland)

Also Known As:

El coche nuevo de Mike

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pixar Animation Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

4 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screened exclusively with a limited two-week reissue of Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) to qualify for Oscar consideration.

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Quotes

Sulley: What was wrong with your old car?
Mike Wazowski: Three little words, Sulley: Six-wheel drive!

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Connections

References Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

User Reviews

Shockingly unoriginal

Mike's New Car is perhaps the worst short to be featured before Monsters Inc, a touching and original movie with a unique plot. Mike, the one-eyed side-kick to the big-hearted and fuzzy Sullivan gets a new 6 wheeled car that follows the principle 'Everything that can go wrong does go wrong'. So, everything from the seat to the engine, the windscreen, the mirror give a problem and Mike loses it.

Now the thing with a Pixar short is that it has to aim for the jugular in its first attempt. If it does not manage to pull the audience in the first attempt, it fails to a certain extent since most of the audience goes for a Pixar film not to analyze the film in terms of a film critic. The instant reaction to this short from me was 'Oh, this is predictable!'. Katedra, another contender at the Oscars failed to impress me on the first go but turned out to be fascinating on my second viewing. But it was a cryptic film made to be interpreted only after repeated viewings. Am I going to watch Mike's New Car again for interpretations? No, because I know that if I watch it again, I will be even more disappointed. The humor in the film does not work, as its tired. The music reminds me of a 60s sitcom where a lady in a simple dress waves her hand and meets neighbors- too goody-goody! The only humorous part was Sullivan adjusting the front mirror. The animation is competent though, but its Pixar and so that criteria is always fulfilled. But the short is forgettable and unworthy of being placed with the other contenders.

My rating: 4/10