Rating:

This review is actually part of Horrorholic’s column, Counter Programming, in which he compared the live-action Speed Racer to the abysmal What Happens In Vegas and how they will fare at the box office. But in order to get this Speed Racer review into the review database, I extracted the review portion and made it a separate post. So check out the clip, then read a very good look at Speed Racer by a true fan of the cartoon. - Morbid

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Back when I was in high school, my parents had bought me a PC game and I ended up bringing it back to Best Buy. Since I had no receipt, I had to go pick something out that was $15 and exchange it right then and there. After searching around for a bit, I came to the first volume of Speed Racer. It looked kind of corny but brought about this vague sense of recollection. And, of course, with that limited edition tire packaging, who could resist? After popping in the DVD and indulging in the first episode, it felt like I had rekindled an old flame with a long lost love.

Almost a decade later and my love for Speed Racer has not slowed down a bit. I now own two original animation cells from the series and a hand drawn poster from the animated movie. It’s funny… I’m not really into cars, which is what most people suspect when they catch a glance at my collection. It’s the humor and over-the-top nature of the cartoon that really drives it home for me. A huge part of it was that much of the translation was obviously lost when it hit the states. There is so much that is utterly incomprehensible but that’s the shows charm. It’s a wacky Japanimation version of the Hanna Barbara cartoons of the 60’s.

Having just seen the Wachowski’s Speed Racer, I can tell you that it is, quite literally, a live-action cartoon.

Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of other filmmakers try to bring a cartoon into the live-action arena, with varying results. While Dick Tracy was probably the most memorable (!), we just can’t shake the stench of The Flintstones. And to a lesser degree, Popeye. Hollywood, I’m ready to make a live-action version of The Jetsons. Danny DeVito as Mr. Spacely. Rosie O’Donnell as the voice of Rosie the Robot. Seriously, I’m available. Call me. It’ll be the most enjoyable train wreck you’ve ever seen.

Going back to the director chairs for their first film since The Matrix Revolutions, the Wachowskis’ (can’t call them the Wachowski Brothers anymore, one of them got a sex change; hard to get used to, isn’t it?) are already back to making strong demands of their audience, only this time it has nothing to do with buying into muddled mythology and poor character development. They seem to believe that the general movie-going public can process sounds, lights and colors at a speed that would give the editor of Spun an epileptic fit.

It’s evident that the purpose of Speed Racer was not to be disorienting but rather to merge old-school anime (panels being pulled away, ridiculous posing, etc.) with new-school technology. The style is akin to someone dropping acid and taking a walk through Gum Drop Mountain in Candyland. I really appreciate that they didn’t try to make this dark and realistic. It’s like looking at pop art and completely fits with the vibe of the cartoon: its ridiculous and over-the-top. With all this in mind, it should come as no surprise that David Tattersall, the DP, previously shot all three Star Wars prequels.

While the film’s plot follows the story of Speed and his quest for the Grand Prix trophy, the film really boils down to the acceptance found in family and the root of exceptional behavior being innate (and to a lesser degree, the exploitation of a child in the spotlight). Speed’s journey through the film is finding a balance between his past, presence and future (which is used to great effect in the showcasing of exposition), always keeping himself in check with the memory of his brother.

The real failure of Speed Racer lies in the haphazard use of humor, which should have been sprinkled through the film, rather than dousing every frame. There are some moments, like a shoot-out between Racer X and a group of mobsters with top hats and cigars, that completely harken back to the cartoon. The same goes with many scenes features Spritle and Chim-Chim, who were the intentional comic relief of the show. However, it’s like the Wachowskis’ understood the comedic undertones in the cartoon and thought they could do better, which is where the film goes off-track. Trying to make an adaptation your own is one thing, but belligerently trying to upstage the original material with bits that don’t work on the same level… its a crime.

On a lesser note, the Wachowskis’ never really convey how Speed is the Babe Ruth of futuristic racing. Despite a well-made sequence showcasing Speed racing against the imaginary ghost of his brother, they in no way gave insight into the instinctual, balls of steel bravado needed to compete in the sport. People need to identify with a character on some level and while championing a dead siblings memory works in some aspects, I’ve never raced cars with grappling hooks, chained maces or spiked wheels.

Much like Star Wars on its original run, many people won’t be able to look past the flashy nature of the film to take its message to heart. I don’t think general audiences are ready to have their senses pushed to the breaking point but I’d love to be wrong. One the whole, Speed Racer’s approach worked well and is a sensory overload experience worth taking. Just make sure to have some Dilantin handy.