Speed Racer is a movie based on a TV show that I had never watched and indeed, barely heard of. In fact, no one I know has watched this show, a Japanese cartoon that I have a strange feeling is more popular due to nostalgia than quality. I hope the show is better than this movie, which is seriously stupid.
I was surprised to learn that Speed Racer is not an idea, but a character. Played by Emile Hirsch, Speed is a high school graduate who wants to follow in his brother Rex's (Scott Porter) footsteps. You see, Rex was killed racing and Pops Racer (John Goodman), who owns his own garage is apprehensive but supportive of his son's choice. The family summoned by a rich billionaire (Roger Allam) who wants to sign Speed to his big league racing company, but then Speed learns the horrible truth- virtually every big league race is fixed. He turns down the billionaire's offer, and promises to win big races fairly even when the corrupt players will try to kill him with their special car modifications.
Doesn't this sound silly? This could have been a fun effort if it had half a sense of humor about itself, however, knowing humor is not something found in the Wachowski Brothers movies in large quantities. My theory is supported by the fact that they feel the need to add a comic relief in the form of the ultra-annoying Spritle Racer (Paulie Litt), Speed's little brother, who hangs around to make obnoxious comments and get into shenanigans with his pet chimpanzee, which is sadly not CGI. I'd rather spend an entire film with Jar Jar Binks than this twit.
The movie is also ridiculously expenses. I have never seen so much money spend on such ugly effects. The Wachowski's are going for a intentionally fake, cartoon look, but the movie is seriously hard to look at. The racing scenes in particular, look so fake that it's impossible to build any thrills or suspense. It looks at times like a video game, and that's not a compliment.
Needless to say, none of this characters are in the least compelling. Pops and Trixie (Christina Ricci) act exactly as you would expect people named Pops and Trixie to act, without any of the charm, or fun. In fact, fun is something that this movie has a critical lack of. In order to make a movie about a guy named Speed Racer work, you at least have to get the racing right.
Speed Racer (2008)