Review - Speed Racer

Now, I am well aware of the critical un-acclaim received by this movie, but I was totally interested in seeing it when I saw the trailer. Unfortunately I was unable to attend a showing when it released as my movie dollar and my available free time are always strained during the awesomeness that is summer blockbuster season. The premise seemed really outrageous, even without the added uniqueness of it being directed by the Wachowski brothers. I finally managed to see the movie at the "cheap" theater about two months after its release. Now that the movie has been released on DVD, I've had the chance to see it with better detail and profoundly better sound (it took our reel man about 20 minutes into the movie to realize the sound was at best inaudible).

I must admit I simply "know of" the classic cartoon series. I have seen a bit of it but never enough to be aware of any ongoing plot or even to readily identify more than three or four main characters. This eliminates me from the "fan" status and any bias that may harbor. I know the theme song and I know that it was one of the first popular manga series to successfully naturalize in the states. Beyond that I am far from an expert.

Let me put this as plain as I can, I enjoyed this film.




The most common complaint usually concerns the presence of psychedelic special effects, crazy whirling bright colors which detract from the story (this of course assuming said reviewer has acknowledged the existence of a story). I did not find the special effects to be distracting or over the top. In fact the worst thing this movie could have done would have been to normalize the story and adapt it to environments, locations, and vehicles more familiar to what we see everyday. I approached the special effects in this movie the same way I did those of other such over the top productions, with deliberate suspension of disbelief. I'm not sure that you could really watch this movie without letting yourself believe its (fictional) world, nor would I recommend it. It's the world of Moulin Rouge minus the breathy singing of Nicole Kidman.

Many other still complain about its story. The storyline is simple, I agree, but no less simple than the children's television show it was based on. Basically it's family loyalty versus corporate globalization. Yet within that simple premise lie several well acted moments. Emile Hirsch, as Speed Racer, is as solid as ever. The demands of this role paling in comparison to Into the Wild, he handles the script well. We feel his urgency in the races, and he does well to connect the viewer with what is going on on the track. Susan Sarandon plays his mother in an expanded role as a peacemaker and loving mother (she was seldom seen in the animated series). John Goodman, as Pops Racer, plays the role of father as well as ever without straying too far away from his animated source. In a strangely heartwarming scene Speed is leaving home in a way all to reminiscent of the way his older brother Rex left 8 years before. Goodman's acting in this scene is as good as anything I've ever seen him in. Wholly believable and touching. Outside of that we have all the main characters from the animated series present. Christina Ricci does her lip service has his love interest Trixie. Her relationship with Speed is simple and the movie does not move beyond that simplicity. Sparky, his mechanic, performs admirably. He has a heart and desires but they also get little exposition over the course of the movie, often relegated to comic relief. Spirtle and Chim-Chim, the boy and his monkey, were probably the nicest surprise. I hate movie monkeys with few exceptions. It seems like a lowest common denominator element regardless of its presence in the original manga. That being said I really enjoyed the two and they had very good chemistry on screen. The monkey scenes were deserving of laughs, never overdone, and often very simple and cute. And nothing beats the comedic value of a boy wearing pajamas with monkey heads next to a monkey wearing pajamas with little boy heads. The head of the looming conglomerate is E. P. Arnold Royalton, played by Roger Allam very much in the style of his Lewis Prothero (ahh, you just have to love V for Vendetta, so frickin' good...). Filling out the major roles are Speed's older brother Rex Racer played by Scott Porter, Inspector Detector played by Benno Fürmann, and Racer X played by Matthew Fox. An obligatory cast of supporting players fills their roles accordingly (i.e. bad guy, bad Asian guy, thug, ninja, race announcer, famous ex-racer, etc.).



The movie really does well to follow the premise of the original manga. It pays homage to many of the original series traits. The secret identity of Racer X, Pops past as a wrestler, Trixie and her helicopter, Spirtle and Chim-chim's lust for sweets. All these subtleties might turn off some, but really do honor the original. I still cannot understand how something that sticks to the general storyline of its source material can then be lashed for not somehow expanding on and exceeding that source material but without tainting what fans loved as children. You know what you get when you take what people liked as kids and add all sorts of convoluted story lines, extra characters, and questionable continuity ... The Phantom Menace.

Yeah, that's right, I went there.

So yes the story is pretty basic, but it does basic very, very well. I'll take basic done well any day over intricate done badly.

Here's what you'll probably like. The racing is amazing. The surreal tracks are eyepopping and beautiful. There are few racing films that elevate your resting adrenaline level as well as this one. If you're a fan of the series (and maybe if you're not), you'll love that the Wachowski's did their homework, keeping the characters and look in line. The sound is on par with what you see. Explosions, engines, and gears rip through the ear and elevate your link to what's on screen. The message is solid, placing love for family above love for fame and success, and above all doing what's right. Again it's a cake we've eaten, but the frosting is undeniably unique.

So here's what you might not like. The movie does hop from family moments to racing and back again. Sometimes you haven't come down from the sensory jolt of the racing fast enough and the calm of the scenes at home can seem slower. The fight scenes don't appear as though they want to be taken seriously, and I'm not sure if that was their intent. That being said they contain some humorous moments. The bad guys are absolutely one trick ponies, don't expect any Ledger-like character development here. They serve their purpose in the same way every other pod-racer but Anakin's did in Episode 1, they're pretty to look at, but we're all just waiting for them to be destroyed in action, aren't we. The look is bright and colorful, always, for the whole movie, all the time, without end, even in the beginning. Yes the very beginning.

Get over it, I like dark too. The Dark Knight was super awesome, but color won't hurt you. Bright rainbows of color are not just reserved for the GLB community and daytime PBS. All sorts of critics call Speed Racer a "video game" on the big screen like it's derogatory. I enjoy fast moving colorful objects, I enjoy being entertained, I enjoy not needing to see a movie several times before it's underlying love narrative elicits euphoria from within the deepest abyss of my psyche.



In the end, this movie is criticized for lacking a direct demographic. Critics couldn't tell if it was directed at fans, children, adults, or chimpanzees. Truth is, this movie is for everyone and there are few "summer blockbuster" types who wouldn't find something enjoyable about it. I loved the racing and loved the style. I lauged at most of the jokes, in spite of their level of slapstick or intelligence. Hell, I was even a tiny bit moved, and I know that wasn't even on the map for some of this film's haters.

And that is why I really liked this movie. It's entertaining, it's funny, it's fun, and it sure as hell isn't a bad way to spend a couple of hours. Give it a chance, critics be damned.

No stars or ratings, just go see it already.


Photo credit Warner Bros.