A dismal year for animated releases (i.e. "Ice Age: The Meltdown," "The Wild," "Over the Hedge," all disposable) finally finds a ray of promise with "Cars." It may be the weakest film from Pixar Studios since 1998's "A Bug's Life," but Pixar on a relative off-day is still usually far superior to what the rest of the studios are putting out and posing as quality animated features for the entire family. Directed by John Lasseter (1999's "Toy Story 2"), "Cars" doesn't have the boundless originality of 2001's "Monsters, Inc." and 2004's "The Incredibles," nor does it equal the even loftier heights set by the aforementioned "Toy Story 2" and 2003's near-brilliant "Finding Nemo." For the most part, the story meanders more than usual, the characters aren't as memorable as Pixar's norm, and little kids might grow restless with the unhurried pacing and restrained tone. Nonetheless, for older children and adults, the experience is an absorbing, charming, and even touching one.

With "Cars," director John Lasseter and screenwriter Dan Fogelman reimagine the world with a population consisting of nothing but living, breathing automobiles (and a few other forms of transportation). For slick, shiny hot-shot stock car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson), professional racing is his passion. While adored on a surface level by gushing fans, he doesn't have any real friends and no one to share his fast-paced life with—a fact only crystallized after he ties with two other cars for the Piston Cup and must travel to Los Angeles for a championship race-off.

On his way out West, Lightning loses his chauffeur and finds himself veering from the Interstate and onto the mostly forgotten Route 66. When an altercation leads to the destruction of a road in Radiator Springs, Lightning must remain in the once-bustling, now-sleepy town while he repairs the mess he has made. While there, he befriends lovable redneck tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), bonds with crusty town judge Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), falls in love with the wise, cute Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt), and ultimately learns there is far more to life than winning races.

What sets Pixar above the rest in the animated market is that, while other studios make cartoons, Pixar specializes in making films. "Cars" isn't quite one for the ages, but there is a low-key, laid-back irresistibility that remains even when the story leaves something to be desired. Comic inspiration comes quickly and subtly, so sly that audiences won't possibly be able to catch everything on first viewing. Many of the jokes will go over the heads of children, who will latch on instead to the dizzyingly beautiful animation and the broad, silly personality of Mater. They will also get a kick out of a scene where Lightning and Mater go tractor-tipping—a wickedly funny play on cow-tipping. Be sure to stay for the end credits too, which houses the funniest and most ingenious gag of all (one hint: it delightfully harkens back to past Pixar efforts).

Lest one think "Cars" is nothing but a series of comedic fireballs, the underlying core of the film is a bit more serious, paying tribute to the majesty and freedom of the open road and the tendency in modern times for people (or in this case, cars) to live such busy, self-involved lives that they forget to stop every once in a while and appreciate what is around them. There's a tragedy and truth brought to this notion that perfectly encapsulates who Lightning is at the start of the film, making his gradual transformation into someone who is less selfish and more attune to the beauty of what surrounds him all the more meaningful. Accordingly, the best scenes in "Cars" are those set on the roads of America; they are not only stunningly, almost photorealistically animated, but also capture that freeing feeling of driving cross country with the world at your fingertips. There is a marvelously handled, indelibly poignant montage midway through set to James Taylor's "Our Town" that nostalgically flashes back to the heyday of Radiator Springs before showing how the town became a lost relic once the fast Interstate was built and traffic stopped coming on scenic Route 66. The setup and emotions of this sequence are obviously inspired by a similar scene in "Toy Story 2" set to Sarah McLachlan's "When She Loved Me," but it works just as well here.

"Cars" is satisfying on the whole and layered with less obvious themes and developments than the average animated movie. At the same time, the characters aren't as vividly written as in previous Pixar ventures and the voice cast is equally uninspired. The supporting participants are forgettable and the lead actors are just okay, with Bonnie Hunt (2005's "Cheaper by the Dozen 2") and, surprisingly, Larry the Cable Guy standing out as the down-to-earth Sally and Cousin Eddie-like Mater. Paul Newman (2002's "Road to Perdition") brings a stately authority and wistful regret to the role of Doc Hudson, but his role isn't explored as much as it could have been. As protagonist Lightning McQueen, Owen Wilson (2005's "Wedding Crashers") merely suffices.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle "Cars" has in front of it is that it's hard to warm up to automobiles as cuddly living creatures, even ones with eyes on their windshields. Cars are cold, steely and mechanical, while characters in an animated film should be anything but. Director John Lasseter finds a way to rise above this issue enough that it doesn't sink the production. He lends each car his or her own personality, and has made a motion picture of gentility and sweetness besides. "Cars" doesn't break new ground in the competitive animation arena, but it is worth your time—something that can't be said about any other animated family pic of its kind in the last six months.