Pixar finally sputters a bit with 'Cars 2'

Several Early reviews are not so hot:

The law of averages has finally caught up with the most remarkable studio in modern movie history, the dream factory that lived up to Buzz Lightyear's joyous cry of "To infinity and beyond." This frenzied sequel seldom gets beyond mediocrity. -- Joe Morgenstern, WSJ

"Cars 2" is certainly built to move merchandise -- this series may surpass even the "Toy Story" films as an effective advertisement for licensed playthings -- but it is notably lacking in soul or sublimity. -- A.O. Scott, NYT

There's nothing really objectionable about Cars 2, although parents of young children should be warned that a few evil vehicles meet violently inauspicious ends. It's sweet-spirited, visually delightful (if aurally cacophonous), and it will make for a pleasant enough family afternoon at the movies. But we've come to expect so much more than mere pleasantness from Pixar that Cars 2 feels almost like a betrayal. -- Dana Stevens, Slate