Title: Speed Racer
Director: Andy and Larry Wachowski
Writers: Andy and Larry Wachowski
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon
Rating: PG
Part of the magic of movies is being able to carry the experience with you long after you've left the dark, comfortable confines of the big screen theaters. You walk out of the theater with a smile and immediately start replaying your favorite scenes in your head. You begin to quote the memorable lines and have a laugh. In a sense, you fantasize about the two hours of film you've just watched, and you form a bond - a personal connection even - with the movie as you continually digest it and integrate it in your head.
Sadly, Larry and Andy Wachowski, who directed the ambitious live action adaptation of "Speed Racer," robbed me of this magic. I walked out of an IMAX theater earlier this week after seeing the film and came to a horrible realization that I was suffering from visual indigestion; I was unable to recall the vast majority of the racing and action scenes of the movie because the directors filled them with so many jump cuts, choppy editing and wild, frantic camera work. In other words, "Speed Racer" was incomprehensible on a visual level because the directors never allow the audience the time and space to appreciate what they're seeing.
I can count two brief moments - one early in the movie and one in the finale - where I felt like I could actually latch on to and absorb the action. The rest of it passed by me in a furious blur, and in my head there are huge gaps where "Speed Racer's" action should be. The movie was a sprawling, chaotic mess of vibrant colors and overwhelming flashing lights, like watching Michael Bay and Baz Luhrmann try to paint a Jackson Pollock with glow-sticks at a rave. "Speed Racer" was Mario Kart with Timothy Leary at the wheel and Red Bull in the engine. And that's not a good thing.
"Speed Racer" has a unique look, but the racing scenes are too blury and chaotic to follow.
I must confess that I am completely unfamiliar with the original "Speed Racer" anime series. I went into the theater with only a loose understanding of what it was about. But I was eager to see what the Wachowski Brothers could do with a PG-rated family movie that, from the looks of early footage and trailers, had a stunning, unique look. I went into the movie knowing that while "Speed Racer" was an action movie, it was also aimed at a younger audience and that I would have to sacrifice a certain level of suspense that normally comes with great car chases and simply go with the flow.
But I was so dizzy and disoriented during the watching of these scenes that I wanted to close my eyes. These were car crashes that actually made me want to turn away instead of obsessively gaze. I had hoped the Wachowski Brothers would bring the same kind of gracefulness and attention to detail that made their previous films such a joy to watch (yes, even "The Matrix Revolutions," which at the very least had some visually impressive action sequences). I had hoped the movie would at the very least be exciting to watch, as I didn't hold out much hope for the story.
Ironically, "Speed Racer" is at its best when it stays away from the race tracks and action scenes and simply concentrates on its loveable cast of over-the-top characters. Emile Hirsch, a young actor with enormous talent and charisma, plays the title character and hero of the movie. Hirsch can rise above mediocre movies like "The Girl Next Door" and absolutely dominate stellar material like last year's "Into the Wild." Early on in "Speed Racer," it feels like Hirsch is being directed by George Lucas, i.e. speaking bland dialogue slowly. However, later in the movie, he begins to shine as a young man hell-bent on protecting his family and realizing his dream of becoming a true champion.
The Racer family rallies around Speed and the legendary Mach 5 car.
Speed and the rest of the Racer family are tormented by demons of the past. Rex Racer (played by "Friday Night Lights" TV series star Scott Porter) is Speed's older brother and an aspiring racing champ. Speed idolizes Rex, but when his defiant brother leaves home to enter The Cruciable, a deadly cross-country race that eventually leads to Rex's death, Speed is crushed. With support from his family and his loyal girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed tries to assume the role of the heir apparent and keep the Racer team in business.
The problem is that Speed soon discovers that the World Racing League (WRL) is rife with corruption and that pretty much every race is fixed by wealthy, unscrupulous corporate bigwigs like the owner of Royalton Industries. Royalton tries to get Speed to sign with his company, but when Speed refuses, Royalton vows to crush Speed and the entire Racer family. Soon, Speed finds himself teamed up with one-time rivals Racer X (a sinister Mathew Fox of "Lost") and Taejo (played by Korean pop star Rain) in an effort to expose the WRL corruption and bring down Royalton.
In terms of acting, the movie has its moments. Roger Allam is particularly enjoyable as Royalton, the movie's high-octane, gleefully British villain. And Susan Sarandon does well with what little material she's given as Mom Racer. But it's John Goodman who leaves everyone else in the dust; as Pops, the Racer family patriarch, Goodman exhibits earnestness and likeability while perfectly walking the line between proud parent and overprotective father. He elevates what could have been a throw-away role.
Sadly, the acting sputters at many points because the script doesn't give the actors much to work with. Like Hirsch, Ricci is held back from displaying her natural charm throughout most of the movie and simply plays Trixie as a doe-eyed bit of arm candy. Much of the comic relief is delivered by Speed's mischievous younger brother Spritle (played by Paulie Litt) and Chim Chim, his pet chimpanzee, along with Speed's mechanic Sparky (Australian actor Kick Gurry). However, the jokes just weren't funny. Maybe I was suffering from motion sickness, but the film's humor simply fell flat.
Another problem with "Speed Racer" is the film's story. Had the script focused on the Racer family, it would have been better off. It is, after all, a PG-rated family movie. Instead, "Speed Racer" inexplicably diverts into subplots about corporate conspiracies, falling stock prices and rival automaker companies that feature too many characters that aren't important to the central narrative. I doubt many young filmgoers are going to care about or even remember some of the peripheral characters like Mr. Musha, Inspector Detector and Snake Oiler.
All of these things, I suppose, could have been forgiven if the racing scenes hadn't left me nauseated. An action movie based on automobile racing and chase scenes should at least have a few eye-popping scenes that provide excitement. Yet I left "Speed Racer" without ever feeling real excitement because the action always felt like a messy water-color painting getting sprayed by a fire hose. And it's a shame, too. Had the filmmakers saw fit to slow things down and show some restraint with frantic jump-cut editing (which is a disturbing new trend in Hollywood) I'm sure I could have digested and even appreciated what they did with the CGI and visuals effects in "Speed Racer."
As it is, much of the movie was tragically lost for me. I'll never know why the Wachowski Brothers simply didn't trust their talent and tailor action scenes the way we all know they can. They never let the camera sit still and allow the audience to truly soak up the magical world they created. I can only hope that next time, these incredibly skilled directors take a step back and use their gifts of precision instead of blindly pushing - no, demolishing - the envelope with blunt instruments.
Join our discussion on this topic
