Ka-Chow! Sprockets festival gets underway with sneak peek at CARS2

Writer and mom of two Heather Greenwood Davis checked out the opening of the Sprockets festival this weekend and shares her family's experience with this guest blog post.

Disney Pixar Animator Don Crum must’ve known from the moment he was attacked on the red carpet by kiddy paparazzi that he would have his work cut out for him at the opening night of the Sprockets Film Festival on Friday.

Crum was in town to introduce the World Premiere of the short film Hawaiian Vacation. The film centres on the Toy Story gang trying to cheer up Ken and Barbie after their plans to travel with their new child owner Bonnie are thwarted when she leaves her backpack (with them in it) behind.

And though everyone, including my son Cameron, 6, was excited about seeing the World Premiere, the fact that a good number of kids were wearing Lightning McQueen emblazoned gear was a hint at what had really lured them out.

CARS 2, the long-awaited sequel to the blockbuster, 2006 Golden Globe winning Pixar smash, hits theatres this summer (June 24), and Crum had promised the kids a sneak peek.

So as Crum stood on the red carpet in front of the TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre alongside a life-size replica of the newly revamped McQueen race car he created, he was grilled.

Cameron, normally quite shy, wasted no time in calling him over.

The two had their heads so close together that I can only make out Crum’s responses.

“You’re very observant!"

“You’re right.”

“Well he got that after he won the Piston Cup…”

“You’ve seen the movie a few times haven’t you?”

(More like 793, I think.)

“Well, I hope you’ll like it.”

Turns out Crum had nothing to worry about.

From the moment Hawaiian Vacation hit the screen, the non-stop giggles behind row after row of 3D glasses were proof he had the audience in the palm of his hand. And he kept them there for the full six minutes of the film. When the Cars 2 trailer and clips were shown, kids and parents alike were gasping and grinning at the special effects.

A mix of James Bond thrills and Pixar funny brings a sleek, bolder flashy look to the new movie.

This isn’t another CARS for the preschool set; it's a movie for the kids who’ve aged a few years since the first one.

And judging from the way he’s sitting on the edge of the seat, his open-mouthed stare and the consistent “Whoa!” sound he’s emitting, Cam is clearly giving it two thumbs up.

Hawaiian Vacation will appear in theatres in conjunction with CARS2 this summer.

Heather Greenwood Davis is a freelance writer. Her son Cameron is now counting down the days to CARS2.