World famous air racer Dusty (Dane Cook) is back, in Planes: Fire & Rescue. Sadly, he discovers his aging engine is damaged, and there is a chance he may never race again. After an unfortunate incident at home-base, he is propelled into the world if aerial fire fighting, help his friends, and find a chance to get back into racing.
During the course of his fire fighting training, Dusty meets veterans Blade Ranger (Ed Harris), Dipper (Julie Brown), Windlifter (Wes Studi), Cabbie (Captain Dale Dye) and together with these brave fire fighters, battles a raging wildfire, threatening the land and lives of those at a nearby lodge.
Planes: Fire & Rescue has a few nostalgic references that will amuse the older audiences, there sadly these are rather few. The look of the film stays true to the previous Planes and the Cars franchises. And the story feels a lot more engaging than the first planes. however, the handful of junior audience members present became restless.
Planes: Fire & Rescue tries, and falters. The nostalgic references for parents are too few, and far between. Many other jokes will go right over the head of the young target audience. And the story, of overcoming, camaraderie, and friendship is not deep enough to satisfy adults, and too vague for the juniors.
This is perhaps one of those to rather view in the comfort of one’s own home.
Planes: Fire & Rescue flies in to South African cinemas 26 September 2014.