My Review of "Speed Racer"

Speed Racer is a movie made in 2008, based off a popular kids cartoon from the 1960s. I haven't ever really seen the original cartoon so a lot of the nuances and throwbacks that they have in this movie are lost on me. Even though I haven't seen the cartoon, this is probably how I would have expected a live adaptation version would have been realized. This movie looks like it's for kids but the way it plays out doesn't exactly feel like it.

The movie starts out with the introduction of our main character Speed Racer. Yes, that's actually his name. It starts out with his early years as a delinquent child that was obsessed with racing. He's literally named after the sport. We get an understanding that his whole life revolved around it because it's his family business.

Most importantly, this first part of the movie demonstrates Speed's relationship with his older brother Rex. His idolization of Rex is probably the main reason why he loves the sport so much. Speed is surrounded by a loving family and a beautiful girlfriend. Basically they're everything to him and this simple life feels somewhat like a dream.

This dream is constantly being challenged by the corporate greed of bigger racing companies. Speed's family has their own racing company but they're small potatoes compared to the big corporations. The corporation portion of this movie is where the movie kind of goes on a social commentary tangent. Some of the dialogue is a bit much.

There are times when they go into long monologues to explain everything and it kind of reminded me of the long winded portions of the Matrix sequels. Yup the Wachowski's directed this movie. I was shocked to hear this too. As such, you're going to expect a lot of revolutionary film making. This movie definitely has a very unique style and art direction.

For the most part the style of this movie definitely works if you know this movie is based off of a cartoon from the 60s. It's very on brand but some people may be turned off by it because of how diversely neon the colors are and there are times when you can feel dizzy because of the kaleidoscope of colors and shapes coming at you at all corners. I thought it was a cool trip, but again it's not for everyone.

The jokes feel on par for the course with the campiness of the 60s. Even though the jokes were pretty corny they fit the movie and even the funny action sequences worked as well. This is the fun part of the movie. The art and campiness of the whole thing.

I tried watching this back in the day and I just couldn't get into it. Watching it again nowadays I think I understand it. The monologues were kind of necessary to bring this espionage like paranoia of the audience. There were certain times I couldn't trust anything and it was thanks to the long winded dialogue. I wasn't really sure who was to be trusted closer to the end. This was pretty cool but you kind of have to have the patience to really let it absorb.

The tone of this movie felt like it was kind of all over the place at times but it was deliberate. I think this was actually much better crafted than I originally remembered this movie. The cornball characters and acting had a certain charm to it after a while.

Overall, I had an okay time with this movie. I don't know if I was in a certain mood or something but for some reason this movie clicked with me this time after almost 20 years. I thought it was actually well though out and visually stunning. Though, this movie isn't for everyone. There are certain moments where I remembered why I didn't like this movie back in the day. For now, I have to give this movie a 6.5 out of 10. I'm not sure if I would revisit this one again but it sure was memorable.