Tow Mater (Cars 2; film)

Tow Mater Mater: "I didn't screw ya up, did I?" McQueen: "I lost the race because of you! ... I don't need your help! I don't want your help!" "I totally screwed up!" -Tow Mater's reaction to his flanderization in Cars 2. Gender: Male Type: Annoying Dimwit (Not in a Good Way) The Annoying Side of Tow Mater Age: 54 Species: 1957 Haulital Hook'em Portrayed by: Larry the Cable Guy Status: Alive Media of origin: Cars First appearance: Cars

Tow Mater (more commonly known as Mater) is an anthropomorphic tow truck that first appeared in the 2006 Pixar film Cars. He is voiced by Larry the Cable Guy.

Overall, he's a good character throughout the franchise, but unfortunately, he was flanderized after he became the protagonist of Cars 2.

Bad Qualities

1. If the movie showed us anything, is that he still has some development to do if he wants to be a good main protagonist. Yes, as mh:greatcharacters:Lightning McQueen's best friend, he certainly deserved more screen time and participation, but that's a bit too overkill.
2. While his spy subplot is interesting on paper, it didn't feel developed enough.
3. He went from being the Dory to McQueen's Marlin to a clueless tow truck who constantly embarrasses and sometimes even hinders Lightning because of it.
4. He gets overly excited when he sees Lightning McQueen back in town, which wouldn't be a problem if he didn't keep bonking Otis into the road (though, that being said, this scene arguably seems kind of funny).
5. He can be seen disturbing other vehicles such as trains, dump trucks, etc. in Radiator Springs at the beginning of the film.
6. He also wants to befriend foreign cars just because he saw them on TV, and he is excited to see them in person to the point where it feels forced and gets annoying very quickly.
7. Because of his line "Stay outside, got you.", he even made Lightning McQueen lose the Tokyo race.
8. He became more of a dimwit and dumber than he was, but not in a good way unlike how he was in the prequel and his spin-off mini-series Mater's Tall Tales.
9. He can be pretty indecent and ignorant, as seen in the scene where he leaves the bathroom and immediately "farts" right in front of Holley.
   • But to be fair, he didn't see her, so it can be considered an accident too.
10. His personality is inconsistent throughout the film; some scenes show him being smart and providing Finn and Holley with useful info, but it backtracks sometimes to show him doing dumb things, like interrupting the traffic in Paris and making fun of the royal guard Sgt. Highgear, in London.

Good Qualities

1. He still is likable enough among a good chunk of the Cars fandom in this film. Besides, he was a much better character before Cars 2, he also redeems back to his old self in Cars 2: The Video Game, and in Cars 3 (at the expense of not being nearly as involved in the plot), giving the support Lightning McQueen needs whenever he feels down.
2. His relationship with Holley Shiftwell is funny and adorable.
   • There are still a handful of funny scenes involving him, like the said scene as said in BQ#4, him accidentally going into the girls' bathroom, mistaking wasabi for pistachio ice cream (especially with the "Whatever you do, do NOT EAT, the free pistachio ice cream! It has turned." line), and almost gave away Alexander Hugo's identity, which makes Holley go "Mater, stop it!".
   • Unlike most Pixar ships (which were made serious and emotional), Mater's relationship with Holley has more humor and is a lot livelier, while still being just as memorable as others.
3. He did a nice job as a spy, figuring out that Miles Axlerod was behind the alternative fuel conspiracy.
4. Although it is a pretty cliche moral and has been used multiple times in other media, Mater does teach good morals in being yourself and trying to help others even if you don't think you can.
5. He does live up to his first line in the movie "Mater, Tow Mater, is HERE to help ya." since he helped Otis, Finn, Holley, and Lightning (the latter three at the final moments of the film).
6. The scene where he has hallucinations may have made some fans feel sympathy for him, despite being hard to take seriously.
7. He's aware of his mistakes and mishaps and tries to make up for them.
8. Larry the Cable Guy still gives a good performance.
9. Despite never being mentioned before Cars 2, his knowledge about lemon cars is in character, since he runs a car salvage business.

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