Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures are at it again with another successful summer flick.

Five years following “Cars,” the much anticipated sequel, “Cars 2,” was released on June 24.

A few years following the events of the first film, four-time Piston Cup champion Lightning McQueen, voiced by Owen Wilson, has made Radiator Springs his home and is now best friends with the cocky yet beloved tow truck Mater, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy.

The story follows McQueen on his way to enter in the tri-country-hosted World Grand Prix where Mater comes along as a member of his crew.

At the first location of the race, Tokyo, Japan, Mater gets caught up in his embarrassing, crazy, yet not entirely intentional, antics.

Things get more interesting when, through a series of miscommunications, Mater is mistaken as an American spy by two British secret agents—Finn McMissile, voiced by Michael Caine, and Holly Shiftwell, voiced by Emily Mortimer.

As a result, Mater gets wrangled into a high profile spy mission to uncover the anonymous mastermind owner of the largest oil reserves in the world.

New characters, including “lemon” henchmen that work to maintain oil dependency, spice up the screen and challenge the “Cars” originals.

“Cars 2” is one of Pixar’s most thrilling, exciting action-adventure flicks since the 2004 film, “The Incredibles.”

The energy is kicked up a notch in this film, making the lives of the cars we know and love from the first film much more interesting.

It’s very James Bond-esque with technologically-advanced weapons, fights, villains and even life and death situations.

Even though these elements are a main contributor to the excitement that comes with this film, some of the action—a torture scene in particular—should demand a slightly higher rating from its Motion Picture Association of America-issued G-rating.

This film is more about Mater as opposed to Lightning McQueen, as in the first movie.

Even though he doesn’t go on a hero’s journey as McQueen did in the first film, the core story and lesson amidst the action and excitement is still just as precious.

Pixar succeeded in making “Cars 2” very picturesque.

From the glowing neon lights of tech-savvy Tokyo to the holographic-projected pictures of the British spies, from the detailed streets of Paris to the car chases across London, the animation is fantastic.

It was a feast for the eyes and it truly showed the talents the animators of Pixar have.

“Cars 2” is definitely a film to see with friends and family.

Audience members everywhere will be swept away at seeing our familiar Radiator Springs residents in a whole new light.