Speed Racer Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEW: SPEED RACER

05/06/08

Minx: [about Speed] He's going to be very good.
Racer X: No, he's going to be the best. If they don't destroy him first.

That is what this movie is all about, being the best and surviving it. The movie itself might not be the best but it sure will survive nicely. What a spectacle! It is a sight to see. It is a visual smorgasbord, a feast for the eyes. The best way to concisely describe it is to call it a mix between a cartoon and reality. It takes real people and puts them in an almost cartoon like setting. The use of color is amazing. From the costumes to the homes, buildings, and race tracks, this is a Dick Tracy concept on LSD. The only thing as elaborate as the race tracks are the race cars. They are modern, unique, colorful, fast, and full of “features”. Even the 40+ year old design of the Mach 5 still looks good and modern today in this big screen rendition. The racing action is unreal, literally. One aspect that turned me off was the exaggerated racing scenes that are clearly computerized. You can tell from the previews that they are that way, but I was hoping that it would be kept at a minimum . . . not quite. Not that it was necessarily bad, just too exaggerated and hard to follow. At some instances it looked more like a video game. Overall the movie was fun, futuristic, fast, funny, thrilling, and for the most part it stayed true to the cartoon.

There’s not too much to report as far as the acting is concerned but the cast on the other hand is worthy of mention. Names like John Goodman (Pops), Susan Sarandon (Mom), Emile Hirsch (Speed), and Christina Ricci (Trixie) gave the movie a strong backbone. Many of them also looked a lot like their original counterparts. The most impressive performances were delivered by Matthew Fox as Racer X and Paulie Litt as Speed’s younger brother Spritle. Matthew commanded acknowledgement and respect whenever he showed up in a scene. He was perfect for the role. The kid was great as most of the comic relief. He along with Willy and Kenzie who played Chim Chim, the chimpanzee, gave some of the funniest moments in the picture. They also gave some of the weirdest. Fitting these cartoon characters into a decent enough storyline to be able to make a movie of this caliber was not an easy task I would think. The story was simple enough for kids to get the idea and it was complex and modern enough so adults can relate and be interested. It was a good balance. The same can be said about the script, both cute and adult. One of the underlying themes is family and its importance. People of all ages can always connect to that. The film presents a strong bond between the Racer brothers that was special to watch.

Needless to say, the special effects and CGI were mind-blowing. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Hmmm, I remember saying the same thing about another movie a few years ago . . . yeah, the Matrix. When it comes to the Wachowski brothers, I’m biased. The Matrix series are my most favorite movies of all time, so far. Obviously that’s a tough act to follow and much less surpass. This could be their best attempt yet but they still fall short. I’m routing for them all the way though because they do have talent. This will not be the biggest blockbuster of the year but it does deserve to be seen, especially if you’re a Speed Racer fan. Oh, did I mention that Speed’s cars are totally hot!