Movie Review: 'Speed Racer'

Revolutionaries of modern, effects-filled cinema, the brothers Wachowski first dazzled the world with sci-fi action blockbuster, The Matrix. Now, after lesser but still satisfactory sequels and a protracted producing break, they're back and impressing us all over again with their visionary new release, Speed Racer.

A singular cinematic experience and sharing its lead character's name, Speed Racer is a kinda live-action update of the 60s Japanese cartoon that followed the exploits of World Racing League driver, Emile Hirsch and his family-centric racing team.

Co-members of one of the few independent teams left in the business, Speed's superior driving skills and his Pop's (John Goodman) masterly mechanic's prowess prove desirable commodities for richer and more powerful racing corporations.

When Speed turns down one lucrative offer, he incurs the wrath of the corporation's owner, Royalton (Roger Allam), who vows to put Speed and his family out of the racing business forever.

Set within a hyper-exaggerated reality, Speed Racer's stylised world is one of eye-popping, kaleidoscopic and vivid primary colours in which no regard is paid to the laws of physics. More live-action animé than photorealism, this look is brought to life through an advanced digital background technology, similar to the one realised in 300 and Sin City.

Filmed entirely on greenscreen, every single shot contains some form of digital tampering from the 2½D foregrounds, mid-grounds and backgrounds to virtually every prop you see on screen—including Speed's Mach 5 racing car.

Entirely unique in its design, this imagined retro-futuristic universe is what can only be described as candy for both the eyes and the mind, though garish and glossy, basic and bright. It's a bubblegum world perhaps intentionally designed with the younger eye in mind, which can, admittedly, be a sensory overload at times for those that have been round the track more than once—especially during the kinetic car races, which are akin to watching a big screen, in-your-face, anime-action Mario Kart©. But this intense viewing event also undoubtedly marks Speed Racer down as an exciting new visual experience.

Utilising a clever editing approach, the Wachowskis add to the already existing comic-book feel by advancing from scene to scene through a combination of wipes and a constantly in motion camera, echoing the way your eyes wander from panel to panel when pouring over a graphic novel.

The true stars of the film these advanced extra special effects may be, but the efforts of the human cast should in no way be overlooked. Bringing life to the virtual reality, the complete Racer family roster deserves credit for finely balancing their portrayals between caricature and character, not least Susan Sarandon as Mom Racer. They're all upstaged, however, by a boy and his comedic Chim-Chim-chimp as Paulie Litt and Willie the monkey steal every scene they're in, eliciting chuckles, laughs then guffaws with their outrageous antics.

Ridiculously cheesy and obvious, tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top and completely bonkers, there's no denying that Speed Racer is undemanding, un-intellectual fluff. But when the fluff's this entertaining, who wants to complain?

Four stars