Speed Racer (2008); action family film review

Poster artwork for the action family film Speed Racer.

Maximum Visual Velocity by Linh 

Directors and writers Larry and Andy Wachowski of The Matrix Trilogy fame, have given Japanimation an innovative visual twist in their latest film Speed Racer. Speed Racer is the film adaptation of the 1960s cartoon television series, and is a combination of eye-popping visual effects infused with every colour of the spectrum. The CGI of all the racing sequences are supported with a dramatic heartbeat of family values and the fight against corporate corruption.

The film tells of a young race car driver named Speed Racer whose older brother, Rex Racer, was allegedly killed in a cross country race as a result of race fixing. Speed and his family resist the temptation to drive for dodgy businessman and owner of Royalton Industries, EP Arnold Royalton, who consequently threatens Speed with impending poverty and oblivion if he refuses to join the corporate giant. Remaining loyal to his family racing business, Speed teams up with the mysterious Racer X to win the Grand Prix and expose the corrupt cheats in the racing industry.

TEAM EFFORT: Trixie (Christina Ricci), Mom (Susan Sarandon), Pops (John Goodman) and Sparky (Kick Gurry) help rebuild the Mach 5 to get Speed (Emile Hirsch) into the Grand Prix in Speed Racer. Image: Village Roadshow Pictures, Warner Brothers.

The ensemble cast is impressive, yet their talents are mostly wasted as acting prowess takes a back seat to the whizz-bang, optically vibrant imagery on screen. However, all the leading players make a lasting impression and add a special quality to their characters.
Emile Hirsch stars as the baby-faced man-boy, Speed Racer, whose real talents lie behind the wheel of a race car. Hirsch keeps the adrenaline pumping in all his race car scenes amidst the brightly coloured landscapes and video-game style race sequences. All the car-fu (automobile martial arts) in mid-air and off the cliff edge were awe-inspiring and would have any racing fan on the edge of their seat.

Christina Ricci plays Speed’s childhood sweetheart, Trixie, and is his eye-in-the-sky as she keeps watch in her helicopter during his races. More than just a pretty face, Trixie can jostle the throttle and burn the rubber in a race car with the best drivers – much to Speed’s delight. Christina Ricci may not have much to say as Trixie, other than “Cool beans” or “Hubba bubba”, yet she can certainly pack a punch with her fists and kicks butt with her fast legwork.

John Goodman is perfectly cast as the patriarch of the Racer family, Pops Racer, whose skills and talent lies in car building and strategic driving/planning. Pops has been in the racing game for a long time and understands how the greed and corruption in the racing industry ruins lives and breaks up families. John Goodman is wonderfully robust and quick witted as Pops, even cracking jokes faster than Indiana Jones cracks whips. 

Susan Sarandon is the mother of all mothers as Speed’s mum, Mom Racer. Sarandon makes Mom perkier than Jane Jetson, more womanly than Wilma Flinstone and is the emotional glue that keeps the Racer family together in times of trauma and tragedy. Not only is she adept in her pancake making and peanut-butter-and jelly sandwiches artistry, Mom also helps build cars alongside Pops.

Star of television series Lost, Matthew Fox gives a slightly subdued performance as the mysterious Racer X. Perhaps his character’s got something to hide? Fox brings a strong competitive streak to Racer X, who’s most animated in the car racing sequences and really comes alive on the track. 

Other notable performances include British actor Roger Allam as the villainous EP Arnold Royalton whose tantrums are legendary; Australian actor Kick (Christopher) Gurry is hilarious as the Racer family’s sweet and sensitive resident mechanic Sparky; Korean superstar Rain as the reckless and ambitious driver Taejo Togokahn is superbly suited as the ally to Speed and Racer X; Paulie Litt is excellent as Speed’s annoying younger brother Spritle, along with his cheeky pet chimpanzee Chim Chim and a supporting cast of many cultures help highlight the international appeal of motor racing as a sport and passion. 

Speed Racer seduces your senses by luring you into a fantasy world of vivid colours, chaos, cars and chromatic intensity. The Wachowski brothers have created a fun and family-friendly escapade which may set the benchmark for future fantasy or science fiction films with the use of visual/special effects.

WINNERS' CIRCLE: Kick Gurry, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Christina Ricci and Emile Hirsch watch on as Paulie Litt and Chim Chim celebrate in Speed Racer. Image: Village Roadshow Pictures, Warner Brothers.

Directors: Larry Wachowski (now Lana Wachowski), Andy Wachowski

Writers: Larry Wachowski (now Lana Wachowski), Andy Wachowski, Tatsuo Yoshida (anime series Speed Racer)

Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Roger Allam, Rain, Benno Fürmann, Richard Roundtree, Paulie Litt, Kick Gurry, Hiroyuki Sanada, Nicholas Elia, Ariel Winter, Scott Porter, Kenzie and Willy the Chimpanzees

Producers: Larry Wachowski (now Lana Wachowski), Andy Wachowski, David Lane Seltzer, Joel Silver, Bruce Berman, Roberto Malerba, Michael Lambert, Jessica Alan, Marcus Loges, Charlie Woebcken, Grant Hill, Henning Molfenter

Cinematographer: David Tattersall (Director of Photography)

Original Music Composer: Michael Giacchino

Film Editors: Roger Barton, Zach Staenberg

Production: Owen Paterson (Production Designer), Anja Müller, Marco Bittner Rosser, Sebastian Krawinkel, Hugh Bateup (Art Directors), Peter Walpole (Set Decorator)

Costume Designer: Kym Barrett

Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes