Can Chick Hicks change the way Lightning did ?

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#1

I know back on LuxoForums , I proclaimed in a Mater fan thread how

much I deeply hated Chick for hurting the King , and also because I had thought I had seen him try to hit Mater

as well, but now I am having second thoughts about Chick .

You think he can change the way Lightning did

?

I mean, he does not seem like an evil guy … he just seems like a very insecure and

over-driven-to-succeed type of guy whom is afraid of losing , when you think about it long enough.

I

think if he got the chance to slow doewn he could get straightened out the way Lightning McQueen did , but in

Chick’s case it will take a lot more patience and work.

What do you think ?

#2

Obviously Chick isn’t evil

but I don’t think it’d be possible for him to undergo the type of change that Lightning did. Lightning was a

rookie who was just too full of himself and thought the world revolved around him. Chick, on the other hand, is

a much older racer who isn’t driven (no pun intended) just by the lure of all the fame that comes with victory,

but also by all the bitterness that he’s acquired over the years. Lightning didn’t really have any bitterness

at all, just the desire of publicity and fame and wealth (and twin Miatas).

While, as I said, Chick

certainly isn’t evil, he has become, throughout his career, more heartless than Lightning was. Chances are very

great that he wasn’t too dissimilar from Lightning at the start of his own career, but, as the film makes very

clear, the years of coming in second have caused him to have a big chip on his shoulder (or the car equivilent

thereof), to the point where it dominates him completely. While I do think that causing the King to crash was

not intentional, when it does happen, Chick doesn’t so much as blink; you can see at the beginning of the film

that even though Lightning does daydream, he tries to appear polite to the King, and I’m sure that if Lightning

had caused the King to crash, he would’ve finished the race, true, but he would have then gone back to check on

the King or something.

Lightning was lucky to have had his Radiator Springs experience so early; Chick is

too far gone, in my opinion. Plus, his problem isn’t about not accepting others, it’s about having been driven

to the brink of (though it may sound a little harsh, it’s the best I can think of) soullessness. Lightning

looked down on others as inferior, but while he certainly wasn’t very enthusiastic (see, Rust-Eze tent), he at

least made an effort not to upset them by being rude to their faces; Chick doesn’t look down on others, because

he doesn’t even consider them to be “others” so much as obstacles.

#3

It’s hard to say. I

think Chick can, but he seems too hot headed. I don’t think he can change.

#4

Everyone can change, but Chick Hicks has driven in his

rut so many times, he’s in deep. A Radiator Springs-esque soujourn would not be enough to do it. I reckon he’d

need to find someone who is a mix of Sally and Mater, one he initially likes and who sees past his obvious flaws

to see what’s good about him, and bring it out.

I too think Lightning and Chick come from the same

personality type. They start out thinking that speed > all, and any position that isn’t first place is

worthless (“One Winner, 42 Losers”). This said, I don’t think Lightning would end up quite as

heartless as Chick. Unlike Chick, success comes easy to Lightning, so it’s unlikely he’d have to suffer the

runner up blues until much later in his career. He’d probably be more self-absorbed than anything. His secret

loneliness (touched on with his conversation with Harv), could mean he be desparate for attention, which could

lead him down a slippery slope.

#5

I tend

to favor DElf4242’s and RMS Oceanic’s answers/replies

on this one.

Chick is a bit more self-absorbed in himself than Lightning was, which would make it harder

for him to change than it did McQueen. Lightning already had almost everything he wanted in his life: popularity,

girls, fans, wealth, and a first place win. The only things he didn’t have were friends and a Piston Cup, two

things that he desperately wanted to acquire. Due to his apparent “weaknesses” that we see throughout

the film, it took a little less effort – but it did take some effort – to convert

Lightning into a caring, not-so-full-of-himself kinda guy.

Now Chick, on the other hand, only seems

concerned about that first place win/Piston Cup and nothing else. He didn’t care what it took to reach his goal,

as long as he got to his desired destination. While Lightning hadn’t been “on the planet” that long

(as young as he was), Chick had spent quite a few more years on the track, and, so far, second place was all he

could accomplish while Lightning and The King were around.

But yeah – interesting/great question,

PixarPixie. :slight_smile:

#6

Even

though I, admittedly, almost cried over the King getting bash-ed up … yus, I think he can change. Anyone can,

given the chance. :wink:

#7

When he did crash into King, I thought that was too far. And I think he can’t change.

#8

FONY: Chick can change, because I agree with you that

it’s definitely possible for anyone to change, but realistically, the chances of it are slim to none. Lightning

changed in Radiator Springs because he slowly came to know the other cars who lived there as other beings with

personalities and emotions; Chick is far too stubborn and single-minded to let allow himself to see others in

that way.

As RMS Oceanic said, another aspect to the contrast between Chick’s and Lightning’s

characters, with which I agree wholeheartedly, is the fact that Chick is the perennial runner-up, whereas

Lightning actually has the success. If Lightning were in Chick’s tires, I think their personalities are close

enough for Lightning to turn out like Chick, but because Lightning does have the

success and Chick doesn’t, their situations are too different for Chick to have a similar revelation.

#9

Chick needs help,Big time, in order to change, he can, but the

only thing that can change him is huge life lessons and friends which he DOESN’T HAVE. I believe people can

change, it just takes time. Way longer than it took Lightning. Chick is way too

stubborn to listen to listen to anyone, but sooner or later He’ll find something empty in his life.
Enough

said.

#10

He could change , but if they ever

wanted sequel , he wouldn’t be able to change . that would ruin the movie ( and my fanfic )

#11

I think the word ‘change’ needs to be defined. In this case, Chick could

change, but only if ‘change’ meant to not be as bitter and ruthless, and to accept who he is. He’ll probably

always have a nasty streak in him, as after so many years of failure, (as, to a perfectionist and someone as

desperate as Chick, second is as good as last) he’ll end up not only hating others for beating him, but hating

himself, and it’s very difficult to change that.

Nevertheless, it is always possible for the good side

that he inevitably has to be revealed by someone who can see and understand him for who he is. He’ll never be an

angel, but that does not mean that he cannot change at all.

#12

Good thread.

I’m inclined to think

Chick won’t change until he’s had a few wrecks and is practically washed up before he finally stops and smell

the roses. By then, few would care.

You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone …

Lightning

was lucky. He found out what was important early in his career.

Which leads me to another question: Was

ever-wise The King always that smart?

Or was he a bit more humble and managed to learn the important

lessons early?

#13

I guess as you get older, you get wiser. I think the King

realized that and then became a legendary champion. Good question.

#14

I don’t know about the King, because to tell the truth, he’s

really just a stock (car :unamused:) character without much background. Doc, on the other hand, I think was very

likely a Lightning-esque personality during his (all-too-short) racing career. Or maybe I just think that that

should be the case because it increases the already impressive irony of his

character in the movie that much.

#15

That’s true. Maybe that’s why Doc reacted the way he

did when Lightning said they were the same. I’ve always through Doc saw a little more of his younger self in

Lightning than he’d have liked, and that’s why he was so desperate to get rid of him.

Maybe the King was

a little arrogant as a rookie. Who isn’t, to be honest? The pivotal difference between him and Lightning and

Chick is that he’s married. I think the Weathers’ have been married a long time, and that Mrs Weathers would

have given King everything Lightning and Chick secretly crave: friendship and attention. She’d have helped King

see there’s more to life than winning. I still doubt that, if he was arrogant, he was jerk-like in it. I just

can’t see it in him.