Unlike the flat Planes, Fire and Rescue has more of a storyline, even if it’s largely predictable and packs in unnecessary details such as an old RUV couple on their second honeymoon. The fires are as fierce as any in a real film about real people, and Fire and Rescue appears serious about portraying the heroics of the men its planes represent.

There’s actually nothing wrong with the film but it does very little that feels right either. Go for it if you want to hide from torrential rains or if the power cut at home is driving you nuts.

Although I would like to think otherwise, Planes: Fire and Rescue was made in order to keep the franchise alive.

It was clearly not a labour of love and it doesn’t really care where the script is headed to, as long as it fulfills its target audiences’ need for instant gratification.

Planes: Fire and Rescue seems to be too high on fuel to be able to walk the straight line of consistent storytelling.

While the film is pretty to look at (the rendering of forest fires are pretty realistic), it’s not in the same league as a *Frozen*, *Shrek* or *Toy Story.* While the script is full of obvious and easy aircraft metaphors which are funny, it lacks the kind of witticisms and wisecracks that elevate other contemporary animated films so that they can be enjoyed by a much wider audience.

‘Planes: Fire & Rescue’ sequel feels like a rushed job. Go fly a paper plane, instead. Oh wait, it’s still raining!

Since the story is anyway on thin ice, it just meanders initially before settling in for a decent climax. While the colorful animation looks good, there isn’t enough to back it as far as the plot is concerned. This Plane is certainly on auto-pilot.

The one good thing about the film is that it doesn’t run too long. In 80 minutes the film zooms by, and the animation isn’t bad at all – seeing as the film uses the same animation engine as Cars. It’s pure eye candy, with a lame environmental message thrown in. Some kids might dig the visuals and the zooming planes. But most kids are smarter than that nowadays, even the very young ones. It’s certainly not for the big kids, though I suspect part three would make its way next year regardless of this one’s box office collections.

… with its 3D effect is a mediocre fare that you’d want to watch on a rainy day if you have nothing better to do.