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!
Review By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
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