Wheely

An animated adventure following taxi cab Wheely, who dreams of becoming a top racing car in spite of challenges on and off the road. The film is presented nicely, with smart animation reminiscent of Disney Pixar's Cars. The problem is that the story, characters, and dialogue are just as similar. It's hard to get past the notion that this is a pale imitation of the 2006 film, down to some of the car designs and the roles of the characters (delivery scooter sidekick Putt Putt feels like Mater with a different accent). Moreover, the film also lacks the intelligent comedy, meaning most of the gags don't really work for anyone whose age is in double digits. Once you look past the slick paint job, Wheely is a laborious proposition that only very young viewers will enjoy. If nothing else, it makes you realise just how much work went into the film that appears to have inspired it.