Speed Racer: A Phantasmagorical Visual Experience

Speed Racer, based on the 1960s Japanese cartoon, is a phantasmagorical, eye searing mess of the movie with weirder editing and more CGI than any ten other films. If you are prone to motion sickness, take medical precautions before seeing Speed Racer.

Speed Racer, like the series, is about a family of car enthusiasts who own a small car company and whose young males race a sports car called the Mark 5 in races that seem to be a combination demolition derby and Roman style chariot race, except with super fast cars. It seems to be set in an alternate America that exists in a version of the 21^st Century as imagined in the 1960s. Cities are comprised on iridescent, multi colored towers where various flying vehicles zip hither and fro.

Family values, however, are strictly 1950s. In the opening scenes, where Speed is still growing up, one can see his older brother Rex, whom he worships, as Wally and Speed himself as the Beaver. Mom Racer, played by Susan Sarandon, is rarely without her apron; all that is lacking are the pearls to be worn while doing house work to make her June Cleaver. Pops Race, played by John Goodman, is a gruff but ultimately fair praetor familius who must occasional bend before his strong willed, race car driving sons.

Young adult Speed Racer is played by relative new comer Emile Hirsch and is somewhat one dimensional in his obsession for driving cars really, really fast. Racer X (whom we all know is Speed's older brother Rex), is played by Lost's Matthew Fox. Rounding out the Racer family is Paulie Litt as Spritle Racer, in the film as in the series an irritating little brat meant for comedy relief, and Willy and Kenzie as Chim Chim the pet monkey. Christina Ricci appears as Speed's every loyal helicopter pilot girl friend Trixie, Kick Curry as the also loyal mechanic Sparkie, Roger Allam as the evil, corporate mogul Royalton (get it), and Benno Furmann as Inspector Detector (yes, an actual character from the series.)