Review of CARS2 based on the reaction from my 3 year old.

Today we saw the 10:15am am session of Cars2 with our 3yr old. While he seemed to enjoy most of the film and certainly was transfixed for the duration,  at 7:30pm we're still fielding questions from him about the violence.

I don't believe this film should have been rated G. At the very least it should have been PG.

I don't dispute it's a great animation and has a fantastic soundtrack that my son frequently bopped along too, but I also think it's an inappropriate visual experience for smaller children. When asked if he wanted to see the movie again my son said 'No'. When asked 'why?' he responded in a way indicating that the characters representing the 'bad guys' scared the crap out of him. 

While these Pixar films typically have dual layers of storyline (one for the kids and one more subtle for Adults), I think this time the balance was the wrong way round. My husband and I agreed the Adult level storyline including the violence and implied murder and espionage was hardly masked, while there was really very little in the way of child friendly morals and funny tales for the younger child. 

Now I'm not sure, (because my child is only 3years old) but I'd guess this is more suited to kids around  8years old. 

I wouldn't have expected to be dealing with questions from my 3yr old about death 9hours after seeing the film. It certainly left an impression on him but I dare say not the best one!

Why do they never believe you until they have tested it for themselves

Okay so we go shopping and make our way around the isles. Something catches my 3year olds' attention.

'I want that one' he announces.
'You won't like it' is my reply.
'I will like it it's green like Ben 10. I want it Mum, I'm thirsssssssty!'

I pick up the product in question, I scan the label. Go Coco, Coconut water drink. apparently it's Natures Sports water. No preservatives, natural colour and flavour, I scan the ingredients and nutrition panel and no longer object to the purchase...

'Alright, but you won't like it' I warn.
'I'm telling you Mum I will love it' he scorns defiantly.

Our trolley is less than 10 meters from the store before his head is diving into the bags scouring for his prized win. Eureka he's found it.

'Open it Mum? I'm thirsssssssty'.

I obligingly twist off the lid and remove the foil safety seal before handing the bottle over to his excited grasp.

'Yum!' He declares before the drink has had a chance to register with his taste buds.

'Humph', perhaps I was wrong. No matter if I am, it seems like a pretty nutritious product.

We head home and unpack the remainder of our purchases. (Well I'm unpacking, he's acting as quality control).

He perches himself at the breakfast bar with a tub of diced fruit and his bottle of Go Coco. He takes another swig and shudders.

'Mum I really love the colour, but the flavour isn't as good as something else'
'Don't you like it Alexander?'
'Yeah I do, it just doesn't have a good flavour'.

I take a swig myself in jest, and almost spray the product across my kitchen.

'Ugh! Next time we're at the shops and I tell you that you won't like something, will you listen to me?'

'Okay Mum, can we put it in the bin now? It's a really good colour but I think it tastes just a little bit yuck. I think they left out something because other green Ben 10 drinks taste so good to me'.