While I very much enjoyed Disney’s first Planes movie with my grandkids, ages 4 and 6, the second film, Planes: Fire & Rescue, was both less clever and less benign. Some of the problem comes from sequel-itis: The same kind of quips and situations that were funny the first time around just naturally lose some of their zip in movie two. But there were still some zingers for the adults (She left me for a hybrid—I didn’t even hear it comin’.). My real complaint is that there was a lot of scary tension throughout the movie that was too harrowing for little kids’ fare: Dusty Crophopper crashed a few times, his trainer Blade was burned and a couple of elderly RVs were trapped by flames. My grandson wanted to leave the theater several times—never a good sign.
Should You See It? Not if your little ones are easily frightened —D.W.
Viewed at AMC Theatres Creve Coeur 12
