CARS 2 (Rated G)

This column has now hit a trifecta with its third consecutive review of a family film. You can’t get more kid friendly than a G-rated Pixar animation film.

The good news is that “Cars 2” has moved the car racing franchise into a whole new international territory that is all the better for its global cast.

“Cars 2” opens by playing homage to the James Bond franchise that easily recalls several key elements in the best of the Sean Connery works. For one, the coolest car is the Aston Martin that belongs to a suave British secret agent.

Naturally, Michael Caine has the perfect quality to his voice that embodies the ultimate cool and suave British spy. His sporty British car is loaded with James Bond-type gadgets.

Caine’s Finn McMissile is teamed with the fetching Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer), a rookie field agent. Together, they launch an assault on a deep sea oil rig run by a nefarious gang.

Back in the States, noted race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) returns to Radiator Springs for rest and relaxation with his best buddy, the tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy).

Meanwhile, billionaire Miles Axlerod (Eddie Izzard), eager to promote his alternative fuel called Allinol, is staging a series of World Grand Prix races in Europe and Asia.

After being taunted by arrogant Formula champion Francesco Bernoulli (John Turturro), McQueen and Mater, along with their hometown pit crew, head off to Tokyo for the inaugural Grand Prix race.

In a series of contests to occur as well in Italy, France and England, McQueen is eager to prove that he is worthy to compete with the cocky, flamboyant and self-absorbed Francesco.

As the racing gets under way, Mater, who sounds like a backwoods hillbilly from Arkansas, is mistaken by McMissile for an undercover American agent on a similar mission to take down a villainous East German scientist.

To make matters worse, the attractive Holley Shiftwell chats up Mater for his supposed prowess in international espionage, while the clueless tow truck imagines that they might actually go out on a dinner date.

Easily distracted, Mater finds himself torn between assisting his good pal McQueen in the high-profile race and falling in with the top-secret mission orchestrated by the smooth, debonair Finn McMissile.

Mater’s charm, which does wear a little thin after too many cornpone witticisms, anchors much of the action around his unwitting ability to chug along on his hapless path to ultimate vindication.

Much of the fast-paced action is filled with a global conspiracy to sabotage the race, which has as much to do with political intrigue as garnering market share in a new fuel source.

The ongoing intrigue plays well for the adult audience, while taking nothing away from the enjoyment of “Cars 2” at a level appealing to grade school kids.

The colorful settings of the Tokyo streets, the coastal beauty of the Italian Riviera, the cosmopolitan charm of Paris and the elegance of London make for very great visuals.

“Cars 2” proves to be a worthy addition to the pantheon of Pixar animated films, enjoyable for its deft combination of comedy and international intrigue.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

“Elektra Luxx” arrived in theaters to little fanfare, but the thought of Carla Gugino playing a pregnant ex-porn star sounded intriguing.

Gugino’s adult film star Elektra Luxx has decided to quit the industry and become a “sexology” instructor at a community college.

“Elektra Luxx” has been released on DVD, a copy of which arrived unsolicited in the mail.

I thought it might be interesting, given a cast of characters that include Timothy Olyphant, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Malin Akerman and Emmanuelle Chriqui.

The right comedic elements seemed to be in place, what with Elektra coping with a clothing-challenged neighbor, a criminal twin sister and other assorted oddballs.

Unfortunately, “Elektra Luxx” just didn’t deliver the comedic goods, so spare yourself any trouble or expense.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.