Critic Reviews

What Planes lacks in novelty, it makes up for with eye-popping aerial sequences and a high-flying comic spirit.

When Planes really takes flight, it can be boldly transporting. Other times, though, it feels like it's running low on jet fuel, full of limp characterizations and questionable set pieces.

Often less really is more, and that’s why I can recommend Planes, a charmingly modest low-budget spin-off from Pixar’s “Cars’’ that provides more thrills and laughs for young children and their parents than many of its more elaborate brethren.

Planes has some wonderfully goofy, even ineffable, touches.

Director Klay Hall's embraceable, overachieving romp plays nicely as a big-screen feature.

For a movie about planes, a lot happens on the ground — those refueling stops can take forever. But the animators take advantage of the power of flight, packing the action sequences with daredevil runs. But it's a race, and a kind of sameness occasionally sets in.

There’s nothing groundbreaking about the animation or script. That said, the characters and story still offer low-key charms.

While visually engaging, this production of Disneytoon Studios -- it was originally slated to go direct-to-DVD -- lacks the sort of character depth and dramatic scope normally associated with the Pixar brand.

Planes has practically no visual distinction, it's a complete knockoff, but I think it'll get by with the kids.

Elementary school-age boys may well be delighted, but it offers not a scintilla of stimulation for anyone else.