Four-wheeled friends find forgiveness is freeing

Cars 2 Rated G

Your daughter and her best friend are like “two peas in a pod.” They go everywhere together. But a disagreement has put a wedge between them, and the peas are definitely out of the pod.

Neither girl is willing to make the first move. Then, a bully at school posts something mean about your daughter’s friend on the Internet. Guess who’s the first to post a stinging reply that puts the bully back in her place? The act is just what friends needed to break the ice. Soon, they’re back in the pod and happy to know that true friendship overcomes whatever barriers may come between them.

It’s never too late to learn that important lesson, as the best buddies from “Cars 2” discover. The much-anticipated sequel to Disney’s “Cars” is available this month on Blu-ray and DVD. Why not have a family movie night featuring “Cars 2?” Then, talk about its universal themes of friendship with our Talk Together points. Wrap up the evening by creating a “traveling time capsule” in our Play Together activity.

In “Cars 2,” champion race car Lightning McQueen is headed to yet another race — this one a World Grand Prix that begins in Tokyo. His girlfriend, Sally, suggests that he take his best friend, Mater, along for the ride. Lightning is a little leery of the idea. He thinks Mater lacks the polished social skills necessary to rub elbows with the racing circuit’s elite. Eventually, he relents and invites Mater to go with him.

In Japan, Mater is star-struck by all the glitz and glamour. And, as usual, Mater bumbles his way through the race’s kick-off event, wreaking havoc on the party and embarrassing Lightning. In a moment of anger, Lightning lashes out at his friend, and orders him back to the States.

But two British spies have already mistakenly assumed that Mater is an American secret agent sent to help them. They are on the trail of the mastermind behind some mysterious explosions involving cars in the World Grand Prix. They recruit him to help them find and disarm the culprit.

Mater, crushed by Lightning’s outburst, reluctantly agrees to help the spies. He goes in disguise to a meeting of the criminal’s minions, but he is discovered and captured. Mater learns that the mastermind plans to destroy Lightning, so he escapes to warn his pal. Just in time, Mater saves his friend and uncovers the true identity of the evil mastermind. Mater and Lightning learn just how far real friends will go for each other.

Talk Together

How do you know that Lightning and Mater are friends? How do they spend their time together? Who is your best friend? List some of the things you and your friend like to do together.

Why doesn’t Lightning want to take Mater with him to the World Grand Prix? What doesn’t he like about Mater? What is he afraid might happen?

Mater makes some really silly blunders during the party. Do you think he means to embarrass his friend? How does Lightning react? How do you think Mater feels when Lightning tells him to go home?

What do friends sometimes fight about? Can you really like someone and still get mad at him or her? Think of a time when you and your best friend were angry at each other. How did that make you feel? How did you make up?

Play Together: Traveling time capsule

Capture those special friendship moments so the feeling lasts forever!

You will need:

• Empty clear-glass jar

• Paper and pen, or pencil

• Mementos from special times with your friend (i.e., ticket stubs, dried flowers, shells, photos)

First, write a note to your friend telling her what you like about her, what you remember about the first time you met, how your friendship grew, etc. It’s up to you which wonderful memories you want to share. Then, gather some mementos from your friendship. Place them all inside the jar. Pass the jar to your friend so she can add her own memories. Together, look through the items in the jar and relive those special moments throughout the year. This is a great way for friends — or your entire family — to work through those tough times that can create bumps in your relationship.