What I Learned From Watching Pixar Cars 2

This post was originally posted on Blogger November 15, 2024.

More Than Meets the Eye: Unexpected Life Lessons from Cars 2

Pixar's Cars 2 might not be the most critically acclaimed film in their lineup, but beneath the fun, globe-trotting spy adventure, there are some surprisingly profound lessons hidden within its animated gears.

While it may seem like a simple kids' movie about talking cars, Cars 2 offers valuable insights applicable to both children and adults. Let's look into some of the unexpected wisdom this movie has to offer:

1. Embrace Your Role, No Matter How Small: Mater, the lovable but often clumsy tow truck, finds himself unexpectedly entangled in a web of international espionage. He feels out of place amidst the sleek spies and high-tech gadgets. Yet, despite his perceived inadequacies, Mater becomes the unlikely hero. His knowledge of "tow truck stuff," his genuine kindness, and his ability to connect with others prove vital in thwarting the villain's plans. This underscores the idea that everyone has unique strengths and a valuable contribution to make, regardless of how insignificant they might feel. This point truly resonated with me. As a chronic pain sufferer, I often struggle with self-esteem, and it's a constant battle to remind myself of my inherent value and the unique contributions I can offer the world. I strive to remember that I have something meaningful and important to give to my family, friends, community, and society as a whole.

2. Friendship Trumps Fame and Fortune: Lightning McQueen, now a world-famous racing champion, is at the pinnacle of his career. However, when Mater gets caught up in the spy mission, Lightning chooses loyalty over personal glory. He risks his reputation and even his safety to stand by his best friend. This powerful message reminds us that true friendship is invaluable and should be cherished above external markers of success. This lesson also clicked with my brain. Over the years my world has become quite small, so my family and friends play an even more vital role in my well-being. Sadly, after my accidents, many friends chose these external markers of success over standing by someone who was struggling. They couldn't accept that I wasn't the same person and couldn't do the things I used to, despite my best efforts. I felt like I wasn’t good enough to keep as a friend. So this makes the friends who did stick by me, and those I've met since, all the more precious. They hold a truly special place in my heart. 

3. Don't Judge a Book by its Cover: Cars 2 is filled with characters who defy expectations. Mater, often dismissed as a rusty old tow truck with a goofy personality, demonstrates incredible bravery, resourcefulness, and even a surprising knack for espionage. On the other hand, Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell, initially appearing as the epitome of sophisticated secret agents, reveal their own vulnerabilities and insecurities. Finn's fear of heights and Holley's initial lack of field experience humanize these seemingly perfect characters. The film encourages us to look beyond surface appearances and recognize the complexities and hidden depths within everyone. We all have our own story, and make meaningful connections with people because of those stories. When we connect to each other on a deeper level, we learn to have compassion and kindness, support and love, for those complexities and hidden depths within ourselves and others.

4. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone: The film takes the familiar characters from Radiator Springs and thrusts them into a completely foreign environment. They navigate the bustling streets of Tokyo and Europe, encountering new cultures and facing unfamiliar challenges. This journey of stepping outside their comfort zone leads to personal growth for all the characters, especially Mater. He discovers hidden strengths and capabilities he never knew he had. This encourages viewers, young and old, to embrace new experiences and push their own boundaries. When you suffer from the effects of chronic pain, it is easy to shrink inside yourself. This year I’ve been working hard on doing the work I need to do so that I can get back to doing the things I want to do and the things I used to be able to do. So I’ve slowly been pushing myself out of my comfort zone in small and steady steps. I haven’t done the Saturday Market for 2 years, so am looking forward to getting back to that next year. I’ve been doing the work so that I can make that happen.

5. Forgiveness and Second Chances: Professor Z, the mastermind behind the weapons designer conspiracy, is ultimately defeated and exposed. However, instead of harboring resentment, Mater shows him compassion and forgiveness. This act of kindness highlights the power of forgiveness and the possibility of redemption, even for those who have made mistakes. It encourages viewers to choose understanding and empathy over anger and retribution. The older I get, the more I believe in forgiveness and second chances. I certainly am not perfect, and I’ve made big mistakes in my life, and I have been shown great compassion and forgiveness, and I’d like to think I’m capable of that forgiveness if someone I love made a mistake. Being shown forgiveness is very powerful for both the person being forgiven, and the person doing the forgiving, as in the act of forgiveness you let go of the anger and resentment that is taking up space in your head. Part of it too is I honestly don’t have the mental bandwidth to hold onto negative emotions like that. To continue to hate. I don’t need any issues in addition to the ones I have, so I just let it go and I don’t hold onto anger. 

6. Believe in Yourself: Throughout the film, Mater grapples with feelings of inadequacy. Surrounded by highly skilled spies, he initially doubts his own abilities. However, as he faces challenges and overcomes obstacles, he gains confidence in himself. He learns to trust his instincts and believe in his own unique strengths. This powerful message reminds us to embrace our individuality and have faith in our own capabilities, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. This is a really important lesson to learn. We are pretty much groomed by “society” to think what we have to offer and give the world is not good enough. Right now I’m working in 2 different CBT apps with a large part of my focus on doing the daily exercises as well as the guided exercises that relate to cognitive distortions and thought reframing exercises. I have been doing these with consistency the last few months and it’s made such a difference in how I view myself as a person. I have grown to have compassion and kindness for myself and have stopped comparing myself to what I think I would have been like had I not had my accidents. I’m beginning to believe in myself again, am gaining some confidence, and I’m benefiting from all the writing I’m doing. It really is healing my soul.

7. The Importance of Teamwork: While Mater might be the unlikely hero, he doesn't save the day alone. He collaborates with Lightning, Finn, Holley, and other allies to achieve their common goal. Each character brings their own unique skills and perspectives to the table, highlighting the importance of teamwork and collaboration. They learn to rely on each other, support each other's strengths, and compensate for each other's weaknesses. This concept relates to my chronic pain because in order to succeed, I need to work with people - my family, my friends, the medical professionals I see, and the process goes much smoother if we are all on the same page with respect to working as a team.

8. Stay True to Yourself: Despite being thrust into a world of high-tech gadgets, sophisticated spies, and international intrigue, Mater never loses sight of who he is. He remains true to his genuine, unpretentious, and kind-hearted self. He doesn't try to fit in or change his personality to impress others. This reinforces the importance of authenticity and encourages viewers to embrace their individuality, even when surrounded by pressures to conform. In today’s world we are groomed to think we are not good enough unless we do such and such, or make certain changes to please others, and it’s never been more important to live while being true to yourself. 

By exploring these lessons in greater detail, we can see that Cars 2 offers much more than meets the eye. It's a film that encourages personal growth, celebrates friendship, and reminds us of the importance of staying true to ourselves.

Ultimately, Cars 2 reminds us that valuable lessons can be found in the most unexpected places. While it may not be a classic on par with Toy Story or Up, this animated adventure offers a surprising amount of depth and heart. By exploring themes of friendship, self-discovery, and embracing individuality, Cars 2 encourages viewers of all ages to look beyond the surface and find the hidden gems within themselves and others. So, buckle up and take another ride with Mater and Lightning – you might be surprised at what you discover along the way.