Speed Racer

The Wachowski’s could not have chosen a better movie to make for a comeback. Written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, Speed Racer was probably the most fun in a movie theater I have had this year. As soon as the film starts you are thrown into a fast paced and colorful world of the future. You meet an adorable, yet troubled family of racers, and are raced through their lives in a strangely idyllic future. There are so many great things about this film, which many others feel make it a bad film. I will admit, if you are over 40 and don’t have ADD it’s probably not the movie for you. Everything flies by so fast it is a little hard to catch everything that goes on. However, who decided this was a bad thing? There are multiple story lines, and they are woven together flawlessly. You are never bored by what is happening, and are always left wanting to know more as soon as the scene cuts. The editing makes this film like none other; it’s flashy but very well done. What everyone else seems to agree on is that its too much for them, but my take is that the film is about car racing, why have slow boring editing and just one plot line, when you can add to the speed and fun by making it unique. Speed Racer is the first movie I feel I have ever been truly able to say looks like a live action cartoon. Everything was just so slightly over the top as far as the set and costumes, but that’s what makes it work.

The casting was superb. Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci make for a desperately cute couple on screen; both are short and look surprisingly young which fits the characters perfectly. Not only were the leads great but the whole family was bringing their best efforts in this film, even the pet monkey did well. There is really nothing bad I can say about this movie. It may be early to say, but I already see a nomination for best editing. This movie was fun. It was a kids movie for grown ups. The Matrix is one of my favorite films of all time, and I am so glad to see the Wachowski’s again. This film was nothing like the matrix, and yet at the same time you know it was made by the same people. The Wachowski’s are really showing us all that they can do in this film, and believe me, they did it!

What can I say, I give it 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing I didn’t like. The only problem I could even try and give it, is that it seemed a little long towards the middle, but I credit that to the fact that I went to a midnight showing and I was tired. I LOVED this movie!