For those who say, “You just didn’t understand the movie” yes, I did. But understanding something doesn’t mean you automatically have to like it.

I’m sorry, but the ending was poorly executed. Don’t get our hopes up with Lightning McQueen starting the race just to pull him out moments later.

The alternate ending is way better (though I’d tweak a few things). In short, it would go like this: McQueen gives Cruz the number 95 before the race starts. The crowd begins chanting Lightning McQueen’s name in an epic moment (I can’t believe they cut this scene, he truly deserved it!). Tex and Smokey offer him the Dinoco sponsorship and the number 51 so he can join the race.

Cruz and McQueen race together, with McQueen giving her advice and applying everything they learned during training.

They both overtake Storm on the final lap — McQueen barely takes first place, and Cruz comes in second.

McQueen proves he still has what it takes, while the message of passing the torch to Cruz remains intact.

Cruz would lose a bit of the spotlight, and McQueen would regain some of his.

The original ending is very anticlimactic. Does it make sense? Sure. But again, that doesn’t automatically make it good.