Though Speed Racer is hampered by uninteresting dialogue and horrible acting, sparks do fly around the cinematography and climatic end race sequence of the film. However, the film ultimately comes across as over hyped and overdone, quickly putting to an end the run of early summer blockbusters that lived up to their billing.
Ever since he was a kid Speed Racer has always had his mind on racing cars. Unable to study, Speed found his escape on the race track, watching his older brother Rex. But when Rex was killed on the track, Speed is forced to live and race without him. Sitting behind the wheel of his Mach 5, Speed consistently blows away the competition. And when he turns down an offer from the head of Royalton Industries, Speed uncovers a series of secrets, ones that would send the racing world into absolute chaos. Hoping to beat the powerful Royalton at his own game, Speed enters the same grueling competition that took his brother's life a few years before.
After last week's huge successful that was, and still is Iron Man, I entered the theater for Speed Racer hopeful yet skeptic. Not only had the few glances of the film in which I had already seen look uninteresting and childish, but the casting decisions just seemed radical as each actor seemed to be hired more for their star-power than their actual character portrayal. And unfortunately my preconceived notions were correct as the film failed to captivate, feeling more like an acid trip than an actual movie.
Emile Hirsch leads an all-star cast as Speed Racer. Known for his leading role in last year's critical darling Into the Wild, Hirsch brings the animated car-racing hero to life through his strong use of emotion and confrontation. And with the help of some major special effects, Hirsch transforms flawlessly, seeming innocent and immature yet carrying an undeniably strong surge of self-confidence.
Along for the ride is Christina Ricci who plays Speed Racer's love interest Trixie. And though the indie queen is known for her off-the-wall roles, I have to say that this one was about as weird and random as you can get. And sporting an undesirable haircut, the actress who could do no wrong in my book has just done something wrong. Not to mention that the character Trixie is a major step down in what was an incredible resume, by one of the most gifted, and sadly unappreciated young actresses.
And then we have the tripod of adult actors including Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman who play Racer X and Racer's parents respectively. Fox, who has seen his career resurface with his starring role on ABC's sci-fi drama 'Lost' did his best with the character he was given, but unfortunately was allowed little room to grow within the film. Stuck with a character that hardly reveals his face, Fox was forced to create a character behind a mask; something that was barely, if at all, pulled off.
And then we have Sarandon and Goodman, both of whom were complexly miscast in the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Racer. Weighted down with uninteresting dialogue and over-the-top actions, both characters failed to catch the audience's attention and thus became a distant memory. Also, both actors seemed well outside their comfort zone as they were hesitant with their actions, making their characters strange and out-of-sync with the rest of the film.
With that said, I must admit that the special effects that comprise the 'virtual-looking' tracks were amazing. However, they are overshadowed by the overuse of bright and vibrant colors. And while the cinematography could have allowed the film to escape the big black hole of disappointment, the colors were so overdone, so bright, that it serves as a distraction, and prevented the audience from truly enjoying the spectacle.
But with all that said, I have to admit that the last half hour of the film, comprising of two intense race sequences, helped propel the film, making it bearable and somewhat entertaining. And with the major events of the film coming at the end, you are able to leave the theater with a somewhat pleasant feeling.
All in all Speed Racer wasn't horrible. However, with its big stars and summer blockbuster expectation, I do have to admit that it was a major disappointment. And for a film with so much hype, it is a shame that they made a somewhat exhilarating yet terribly corny film that will only appeal to the younger audience.
