History TearJerker / Cars

'''Doc:''' They quit on ''me''. When I finally got put together, I went back expecting a big welcome. Know what they said? "You're history." Moved on to the next rookie standing in line... There was a lot left in me. I just never got a chance to show 'em. I keep that to remind me never to go back.

* How about the credits? And it's not just the use of that absolute TearJerker of a song - 'Find Yourself' by Brad Paisley. Those lyrics are bad enough, but at around the same time they begin (when the Hilarious outtakes have ended), the screen just ''has'' to display the words 'Dedicated to Joe Ranft 1960-2005'. For those who don't know, Ranft was an actor and close friend of the Pixar crew, who died in a car accident. Made more sad by them showing clips, next to the dedication, of the Pixar characters he played: Heimlich (from 'A Bug's Life'), Lenny (from 'Toy Story 1 & 2') and Wheezy (from 'Toy Story 2'). Made even worse for anyone who watched Toy Story 3 and was wondering where Lenny and Wheezy were ... and it might be bad for anyone who hoped for a sequel to WesternAnimation/ABugsLife, as well. So ... heartwarming song, dedication to lost friend, clips of characters we may never see again ...

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGwpw5dwVz0 The "Our Town" sequence.]] ''Especially'' the part where Luigi pushes up the sign that says 'We're still open'. It's the "[[WesternAnimation/ToyStory2 When She Loved Me]]" of ''Cars''. Even WebVideo/CinemaSins thought so; despite having a low opinion on the movie, Jeremy is compelled to remove a sin for the song no matter what else happens.

*** Worse yet, [[HarsherInHindsight the teaser for]] ''[[HarsherInHindsight Cars 3]]'' [[HarsherInHindsight implies that Lightning might go through the same thing!]]

* The scene where [=McQueen=] ''goes back'' and pushes the wrecked King over the finish line, giving up his victory, but giving The King some final dignity.

*** Worse yet, the teaser for ''Cars 3'' implies that Lightning might go through the same thing!

* How about the credits? And it's not just the use of that absolute TearJerker of a song - 'Find Yourself' by Brad Paisley. Those lyrics are bad enough, but at around the same time they begin (when the Hilarious outtakes have ended), the screen just ''has'' to display the words 'Dedicated to Joe Ranft 1960-2005'. For those who don't know, Ranft was an actor and close friend of the Pixar crew, who died in a car accident. Made more sad by them showing clips, next to the dedication, of the Pixar characters he played: Heimlich (from 'A Bug's Life'), Lenny (from 'Toy Story 1&2') and Wheezy (from 'Toy Story 2'). Made even worse for anyone who watched Toy Story 3 and was wondering where Lenny and Wheezy were ... and it might be bad for anyone who hoped for a sequel to WesternAnimation/ABugsLife, as well. So ... heartwarming song, dedication to lost friend, clips of characters we may never see again ...

** Doubles as heartwatming: when Sally invites Mcqueen for the ride, he considers running away for a few seconds before deciding to join Sally instead.

** Speaking of that, The King being so destroyed that it resembled not only Doc Hudson's crash but also happened in real life (See MoodWhiplash and any trope involving the King's voice actor)

* Indeed. Pixar + James Taylor = sobbing. And the aftermath of the press finding Lightning again didn't exactly help either. It may not have drawn tears, but still...watch. Think about it.
** That scene was like a more painful version of the "Our Town" song, because it essentially shows Radiator Springs coming back to life, and then dying again when Doc Hudson finally gets rid of the press and [=McQueen=]. The neon lights shutting off at that exact moment is good symbolism.

* Doc's "they quit on me" speech. Remember that ''Cars'' was the last film for Paul Newman (Doc's voice actor) before he died. He even took a break from retirement when Disney/Pixar summoned him to have a role in it. The line "There was a lot left in me. I never got a chance to show them," [[HarsherInHindsight becomes even more heartbreaking]].

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGwpw5dwVz0 The "Our Town" sequence.]] ''Especially'' the part where Luigi pushes up the sign that says 'We're still open'. It's the "[[WesternAnimation/ToyStory2 When She Loved Me]]" of ''Cars''.

** Speaking of that, The King being so destroyed that it resembled not only Doc Hudson's crash but also happened in real life (See Mood Whiplash and any trope involving the King's voice actor)

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGwpw5dwVz0 The "Our Town" sequence.]] ''Especially'' the part where Luigi pushes up the sign that says 'We're still open'. It's the "When Somebody Loved Me" of ''Cars''.

** That scene was like a more painful version of the "Our Town" song, because it essentially shows Radiator Springs coming back to life, and then dying again when Doc Hudson finally gets rid of the press and [=McQueen=]. The neon lights shutting off at that exact moment is good symbolism.

[[AC:Cars]]

[[AC:Cars 2]]
* Them talking about Doc in the second movie.
** Then you remember his "they quit on me" speech, and realize that after Doc's comeback as a pit crew chief, the Piston Cup finally acknowledged him!
** This can be particularly damaging to some viewers if they were looking forward to seeing how he and Lightning got along.
* [[spoiler: Mater's goodbye letter to Lightning, telling how he doesn't wish to be a burden to him and that it's best for everyone if he went home.]]
* [[spoiler: Mater's HeroicBSOD in the climax of the sequel, realizing how much of a nuisance he was to [=McQueen=]. That and his realization that [=McMissile=] actually thought he was being a moron on purpose instead of just being Mater.]]
** [[spoiler: Especially his dream sequence. [[ItMakesSenseInContext "Bang the gong,]] [[TearJerker Get]] [[BreakTheCutie it]] [[HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath on!" ]] ]]
** [[spoiler: This culminates with Mater, wracked with guilt, finally admitting that he isn't a spy. Seeing [[ThePollyanna Mater]] in such despair can be truly devastating.]]
* It's brief, but when Mater regains consciousness at Big Bentley, he believes he's too late and [=McQueen=] has been killed already. Mater just sounds [[DespairEventHorizon so broken]] at this point. Thankfully this is not the case.
* [[spoiler: Mater trying to get away from Lightning towards the end. Lightning is spilling out his heart and trying to make up with his best friend and Mater is going at full speed to save Lightning's life even if it could mean being blown up himself by the bomb attached to his hood. Talk about loyalty.]]
* Likely to be unintentional, but seeing all the race cars race around Doc Hudson's little racing valley--with Doc not there--there was a pang there.
* Rod "Torque" Redline (voiced by Bruce Campbell) seemed like a cool guy and had lots of good one-liners, and gets killed in one of the most cruel ways possible.

* Likely to be unintentional, but seeing all the race cars race around Doc Hudson's little racing valley--with Doc not there--there was a pang there.

* It's brief, but when Mater regains consciousness at Big Bentley, he believes he's too late and [=McQueen=] has been killed already. Thankfully this is not the case.

* It's brief, but when Mater regains consciousness at Big Bentley, he believes he's too late and McQueen has been killed already. Thankfully this is not the case.

* Doc's "they quit on me" speech. Remember that ''Cars'' was the last film for Paul Newman (Doc's voice actor) before he died. He even took a break from retirement when Disney/Pixar summoned him to have a role in it. The line "There was a lot left in me. I never got a chance to show them," becomes even more heartbreaking.

* How about the credits? And it's not just the use of that absolute TearJerker of a song - 'Find Yourself' by Brad Paisley. Those lyrics are bad enough, but at around the same time they begin (when the Hilarious outtakes have ended), the screen just ''has'' to display the words 'Dedicated to Joe Ranft 1960-2005'. For those who don't know, Ranft was an actor and close friend of the Pixar crew, who died in a car accident. Made more sad by them showing clips, next to the dedication, of the Pixar characters he played: Heimlich (from 'A Bug's Life'), Lenny (from 'Toy Story 1&2') and Wheezy (from 'Toy Story 2'). Made even worse for anyone who watched Toy Story 3 and was wondering where Lenny and Wheezy were ... and it might be bad for anyone who hoped for a sequel to ABugsLife, as well. So ... heartwarming song, dedication to lost friend, clips of characters we may never see again ...

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGwpw5dwVz0 The "Our Town" sequence.]] ''Especially'' the part where Luigi pushes up the sign that says 'We're still open'. Basically, it's the "When Somebody Loved Me" of ''Cars''.

** That scene was like a more painful version of the "Our Town" song, because it essentially shows Radiator Springs coming back to life, and then dying again when Doc Hudson finally gets rid of the press and [=McQueen=]. There isn't any good rational reason why the neon lights all burn out at that exact moment, but it's such good symbolism that it doesn't matter.
*** They didn't burn out, someone shut them off... because there was no point in continuing the festivities after [=McQueen=] left.

* How about the credits? And it's not just the use of that absolute TearJerker of a song - 'Find Yourself' by Brad Paisley. Those lyrics are bad enough, but at around the same time they begin (when the Hilarious outtakes have ended), the screen just ''has'' to display the words 'Dedicated to Joe Ranft 1960-2005'. For those who don't know, Ranft was an actor and close friend of the Pixar crew, who died in a car accident. Made more sad by them showing clips, next to the dedication, of the Pixar characters he played: Heimlich (from 'A Bug's Life'), Lenny (from 'Toy Story 1&2') and Wheezy (from 'Toy Story 2'). Made even worse for anyone who watched Toy Story 3 and was wondering where Lenny and Wheezy were ... and it might be bad for anyone who hoped for a sequel to ABugsLife, as well. So ... heartwarming song, dedication to lost friend, clips of characters we may never see again ... did I miss anything?

* [[spoiler: Mater's HeroicBSOD in the climax of the sequel, realizing how much of a nuicence he was to [=McQueen=]. That and his realization that [=McMissile=] actually thought he was being a moron on purpose instead of just being Mater.]]

** This can be particularly damaging to some viewers if they were looking forward to seeing how he and Lightening got along.

** This troper died a bit inside. They were looking forward to seeing how he and Lightening got along.

* [[spoiler: Mater trying to get away from Lightning towards the end. Lightning is spilling out his heart and trying to make up with his best friend and Mater is going at full speed to save Lightning's life even if it could mean being blown up himself by the bomb attached to his hood. Talk about loyalty.]]