The story, cooked up* by director John Lasseter, co-director Brad Lewis and Dan Fogelman and scripted* by Ben Queen, is simple. But it is not completely predictable*.

    The action begins at sea, in the middle of an ocean of evil oil rigs* infiltrated* by British spies Finn McMissile (an Aston Martin voiced by Michael Caine) and Miata-like Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer), who make use of all their special extra-automotive* gifts — wings, heavy arms, underwater capability — to make a night escape.

    A world away in the American desert, the handsome red Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is hot-rodding around with tow-truck buddy Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) when he’s persuaded* to enter a series of races in which big shot Land Rover Sir Miles Axlerod (Eddie Izzard) hopes to prove that his revolutionary clean fuel* Allinol can replace* gas.

    Here, as elsewhere, the visual, verbal and musical jokes come in quickly.

    First stop is Tokyo, where cars engage in sumo wrestling* and the lights of the Ginza* district look so bright you’re glad of the dimming* effect of the 3D glasses. Pixar typically amps up the brightness of its images to make up for the darkening.

    During a pass through Paris, the old Les Halles* is turned into a spare parts bazaar*, Gusteau’s from “Ratatouille*” is part of the cityscape, the tops of the Eiffel Tower* and the Arch de Triomphe* are automotively reimagined and Mater, who went home after Tokyo, makes a too-soon return.

    Next stop is fictional* Porto Corsa, an Italian seaside place that looks like a theme park version of Monaco. The Italian champion, Francesco (John Turturro), plans to beat Lightning McQueen here, while a disguised* Mater tries to infiltrate a gang of low-end Euro cars working for unknown bosses. They want to make people doubt the Allinol vehicles to keep the demand for oil high. The message is clear.

    The in-fighting becomes terrible during the final race in London in front of the Queen. At that moment the bad guy is exposed, the British spies are beaten and the Americans, while happy about what they have done, typically decide that there’s no place like home. (SD-Agencies)