The Wachowski brothers’ movie leaves viewers a bitter taste
regarding the plot and a much too sweet one regarding image, light and colors.
The color explosion is enough to tire even a 9-year-old, but
let’s say it is quite enjoyable in the first part of the movie, until you get
enough and wish it would stop. But it doesn’t, for 2 hours and 9 minutes.
The adaptation of the beloved Japanese cartoon of the 1960s,
“Speed Racer,” is barely similar to the old anime. It contains plenty of boring
car races and quite confusing flashbacks, while being as predictable as can be.
The actors were chosen quite well, if I may say. Emile
Hirsch, the star of “Into the Wild,” perfectly blends into the movie, in the
role of Speed Racer, without trying to influence his character in any way,
which is probably exactly what the Wachowski brothers wanted: a film where the
actors do not try to outshine the film’s graphics.
So far, Hirsch has proved to be not only a Hollywood star
without affectations, but also a very flexible actor who can play very
different roles without being identified with any of them.
"I don't think he wants to fit into any category,"
says Speed co-star Susan Sarandon, who plays the racer's mom, according
to USA
Today. "Once you get a label, studios will try to put you into that
niche."
The Wachowskis reportedly chose Hirsch to play Speed Racer
after learning that, as a kid, he used to passionately watch Cartoon Network
reruns of the 1960s’ anime.
Hirsch began acting when he was 8, making appearances in “NYPD Blue” and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.” But the
role that made him known in the movie industry was the 2004 sex comedy “The
Girl Next Door.” Soon after that, he appeared in a very different role as a
skater hooligan in “Lords of Dogtown” and as a drug dealer in “Alpha Dog,” in
2006.
For his performance in the Sean Penn directed movie, “Into
the Wild,” he earned seven best-actor nominations in several film circles.
Christina Ricci, who plays Speed Racer’s girlfriend in the
Wachowski film, is also very suited for her role as Trixie, as she has face
features similar to the ones of anime characters, with her cute round face and
her large, expressive eyes.
As for the plot…Well, Speed Racer is a young man with quite a silly obsession: that of winning a cross-country car racing rally, The Crucible,
in the memory of his beloved brother Rex Racer. In his race to fulfill his goal,
he is supported by his loving family, which includes a funny little brother Spritle
and a chimp pet, and his girlfriend Trixie.
The maniacal owner of Royalton Industries makes an offer to
Speed, who rejects it. That obviously causes Royalton to go crazy and wish to
destroy Speed’s chances to win the race. Then Speed allies with some mysterious
racer, called Racer X, in an attempt to reveal the cheating winning strategies
of Royalton Industries. The denouement is very difficult to figure out, isn’t
it?
Hitting theaters this weekend, the film could attract the
younger kids, if they were familiar with any of the stars in the movie or they
had ever watched the anime series, but whether it will be successful or not, it
remains to be seen.
Starring: Emile Hirsch, John Goodman, Christina Ricci, Susan
Sarandon
Directors: Andy and Larry Wachowski
Rating: PG for sequences of action, some violence and
language
Running time: 2 hours, 9 minutes
