My Poor Brain

4 out of 5

The original Speed Racer TV show aired in 1967 which was two decades before I was even born. The show did have lasting popularity throughout the years of my childhood, but I, for some reason, never caught it. However, when I saw the first photos of the Mach 5 from the feature film I was suddenly pumped for it. Ever since I was a kid I had a love for NASCAR and any movies involving fast cars or racing. Not only is Speed Racer full of auto racing, it is also set in a futuristic world with cars full of gadgets and weapons reminiscent of a James Bond Aston Martin.

Plot Synopsis from IMDB: Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized-the legendary Rex Racer – whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer, the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner but uncovers a terrible secret-some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie, Speed teams with his one-time rival-the mysterious Racer X – to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

The races and racecars were nothing short of unique and amazing. The races were part of the WRL (World Racing League?) and, unlike today’s NASCAR sport, was a mix of incredibly fast races and a battle royale. When the first race started at a track called “Thunderhead” I became hooked immediately. I loved the track and the whole environment. It was like nothing I had ever seen; a winding steel track like a roller coaster suspended in the air. The speed of the cars was amazingly shown and the adrenaline rush was visible on Speed’s face. The race ended in my favorite moment in the entire film. The ghost of Rex Racer’s car was visible on the track and Speed was racing it, which ended in an emotional grand finish.

The film followed a very cartoon feel, rightly so, and the actors did a great job of portraying that feel. I found that, while nobody delivered a solid gold performance, all the actors worked in their parts. Emile Hirsch kept Speed as a lovable and strong character at the same time. Matthew Fox pulled off a great Racer X, who when behind the mask is fierce and strong, and when the mask is off let his true self come out as more than a vigilante. John Goodman as Pops was one of my favorite things in the film; he was the large and tough head of Racer Inc who threw out some awesome smackdown wrestling moves when duty called. Susan Sarandon as Mom strangely struck me as hot, always showing off that little bit of cleavage. I also found Christina Ricci to be quite intriguing AND cute as Trixie.

The complaints that I came across included the just over 2 hours running time, the fact this is a kids movie, and the monkey. I didn’t feel the effects of the 2 hour running time and found most of the movie to flow well. The second time I saw it I did notice that the talks could get boring for some, but I, for the most part, enjoyed them. I was a little nervous when I realized this was going to be a kids movie, but I loved being a kid again for this film. I mostly didn’t mind Spritle and Chim Chim, however, there were a couple parts that seemed like they were thrown in when the scene bordered on “adult”.

I enjoyed the movie overall and actually saw it twice. I think the racing is what kept me the most pumped. I rarely will run back to the theaters to see a movie for a second time with such a short time between, and I think that says something about it. The Wachowski’s have a LOT to be proud of in Speed Racer. Regardless of the not-so-good Rotten Tomatoes ratings and overall reaction, they should be pretty happy with the final product. What matters is not the people that didn’t like it, but the people like me who couldn’t wait three days to see it again.