There are a ton of automotive themed movies out there. However, most of them have a healthy dose of Hollywood and border on the edge of ridiculous. We’re looking at you, The Fast and the Furious franchise.
But, every once in awhile a film comes along that should cater to auto enthusiasts nicely. We watched McLaren to see if that’s the case.
McLaren is a name that should resonate with gearheads. From Can-Am victories in the late ’60s to its stellar F1 runs in the late ’80s, McLaren is a legend in motorsports. Even its street cars set records with the F1 holding the title of the world’s fastest car for seven years.
McLaren takes a look at how this famous car maker and race team started from its humble beginnings. It also profiles Bruce McLaren’s tragically short life and gives viewers insights about the legend himself.
The film contains plenty of original footage. There’s also well-timed reenactments with a selection of McLaren’s best cars. Even some animations turn up in the film, which works surprisingly well.
Several other famous drivers offer their insights during the film as well. They include Dan Gurney, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Jackie Stewart. As these men were friends with McLaren throughout his racing career, it helps humanize the racer. There are also several emotional moments when they discuss McLaren’s death.
For an automotive enthusiast, this film will check all the right boxes. Roger Donaldson and Matthew Metcalfe manage to make it both interesting and entertaining. Also, all the original footage and reenactments will give you a glorious soundtrack of vintage engines.
However, McLaren should be a pass for anyone who isn’t a self-professed gearhead. The film only caters to those interested in cars, unlike big Hollywood productions like Rush. Also, those without any racing interest probably won’t recognize any of the names that show up. This can make it difficult to follow and will leave them asking questions.
McLaren is available from various streaming services, including Amazon, the PlayStation Store, and Google Play. At this time it’s not available for subscription streaming services. The film runs $9.99 from most on demand providers.
See more articles on McLaren.
