This slight but entertaining sequel benefits by tearing up the blueprint director John Lasseter used for both his Pixar racecar operas to become the animated disaster movie that Towering Inferno producer Irvin Allen never made.

| Jan 22, 2022

The conquering adversity messaging is worthy enough, but the direct-to-DVD story never takes flight.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 1, 2021

Amps up both the sincerity and the respect quite a bit and makes you feel like you're smack dab in the midst of its numerous action sequences.

| Original Score: 3.0/4.0 | Sep 20, 2020

[T]he total packaged story is warm, heartfelt, and heroic.

| Feb 5, 2020

It would be nice if Planes could feel a bit like it had some more of the Disney magic and not just an extended excuse to sell more little toys and Legos.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jan 11, 2020

Action-packed, fun-filled flight filled with adventure for the whole family.

| Dec 14, 2019

Actually, the humor is one of the strangest elements of Fire & Rescue, mainly in that it feels largely absent.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 28, 2017

While the script is full of obvious and easy aircraft metaphors which are funny, it lacks the kind of witticisms and wisecracks that elevate other contemporary animated films so that they can be enjoyed by a much wider audience.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Nov 14, 2017

Not only are the cliches more deftly packaged this time around, the action scenes - with long, exciting tracking shots of planes flying through valleys and over wild fires - often look like they were directed by James Cameron.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 26, 2014

Somehow, this sequel to a rubbish spin-off to a rubbish sequel to a so-so cartoon is actually pretty good.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 10, 2014

Like Cars, this is essentially funny-animal animation with chrome and aluminium instead of fur.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 10, 2014

This Disney cartoon is running on empty.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2014

It's as if the Mouse House is providing bootlegs of its own material.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2014

Despite the fact that this too-soon spin-off feels like a mere cash-in on the Disney Cars/Planes marketing machine, this sequel is actually a lot more fun than expected.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2014

If it does become faintly dull and preachy, the trim humour and detailing - the CHiPs spoof CHoPs, Motorjito cocktails, the pickup truck with superb pickup lines - soon get it squarely back on the fun runway.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2014

Perhaps these rock-bottom expectations are a good thing, because Planes 2 feels like a significant upgrade on its distinctly run-of-the-mill predecessor...

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2014

A solid voice cast (Harris, Holbrook et al) doesn't add much more than cosmetic touches to this bland animation.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 7, 2014

The slender plot is very ordinary and the corny gags come thick and fast.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 7, 2014

The kids will be satisfied with a thin slice of Pixar topped with Disney frosting, but there's nothing satisfying for the rest of us to chew on.

| Aug 7, 2014

The target audience of under-10s has every right to feel patronised.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Aug 7, 2014