PRINTMovie Review: Speed Racer
COURTESY OF Warner Bros. Pictures
May 15, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
“Okay, no more Mr. Nice Guy,” Speed Racer says during a racing sequence. That’s just a sampling of dialogue from Speed Racer, written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, who brought us The Matrix trilogy and wrote V for Vendetta. It is clear that dialogue is not key to the movie’s development.
The Wachowski brothers deliver plenty of visual stimuli, but there is not much of a plot. In fact, the formula can be summed up quite simply: A young Speed becomes obsessed with racing, faces competition and hardship and ultimately must prove himself. Speed describes racing in his family as more valuable than a sport. “It’s way more important than that … it’s like … a religion,” Speed says. The movie is not really like the Japanese series on which its based, despite the occasional use of Speed Racer’s theme song.
Despite the predictable plot, Speed Racer is really stylized with great attention to detail. Speed’s endearing younger brother, Spritle, even has coordinating pajamas with the family chimp, Chim Chim. Evil empire owner Royalton’s attire and office is covered in lush shades of purple — purple being the color for royalty.
At times the visual action occurs so rapidly, it’s hard to take in scenes and fully recognize the Wachowski brothers’ attention to detail. Some scenes certainly feel video-game inspired. Extreme close-ups are used throughout the film in order to transition scenes or introduce flashback sequences that drag on too long.
The movie’s beginning also moves more rapidly than the second half, resulting in Speed Racer to feel long. Yet the technology, characters and film’s execution still make Speed a pleasurable trip.
Vox Rating:
