A candy colored, roller coaster ride of a movie, "Speed Racer" is surprisingly entertaining in a kitschy way, with the formidable Wachowski Brothers keeping the action going and offering up a cool Japanese anime style that gives some badly needed kick to a very tired type of story. We have the "Racer" family: father Pops (John Goodman), Mom (Susan Sarandon), Speed (Emile Hirsch), Rex (Scott Porter), Spritle (Paulie Litt) and even a chimp named Chim Chim. Honorary family member Sparky (Kick Gurry) is a mechanic who works with Pops and wouldn't you know, the family business is race cars. Of course these aren't just any race cars. I was expecting endless NASCAR events, but the cars in this movie are more like one big video game. They can turn sideways, leap over other cars, shoot out weapons of destruction and operate on spinning loops of track that seem to go on forever. Even as a young boy Speed is obsessed with racing, idolizing his older brother Rex (who's already a racer) and shunning schoolwork for fantasies of taking to the track. When Rex is killed in a tragic race accident, the family is left stunned. Still, Speed is even more determined to compete, and win, the same race that killed his brother. The sleazy CEO of a big money, corporate race car company (Roger Allam, really hamming it up in a fun way) is equally determined to steal Speed away from his family's independent car operation so he can take advantage of the boy's racing talent. The appearance of a mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) complicates things for Speed as well. Is Racer X really his late brother Rex in disguise?
Although the movie goes on far too long, and has nothing to offer in the way of any surprises, character development or story originality, its style and marvelous cast make it work. It's hard for me to completely enjoy a movie in a theater full of kids, but I managed to go along for the ride just enough to feel my $6.75 bargain matinee money wasn't completely wasted. And I got my Emile Hirsch fix, albeit as a guilty pleasure.
Things to love about this movie: Its bold colors, exciting video game style and great cast
Things to hate about this movie: A few too many car races; a bit too long; too much of a kiddie movie with very simplistic story and even a big, blatant, literal message at the end
Pleasant surprises: There are very few surprises here, but I did like a scene showing several "bad guys" munching on meat and rubbing their faces in fur (a nice change of pace to a PETA supporter like myself)
Unpleasant surprises: Are you kidding? Of course not.
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