Wide Angle Lenz [beta]

So I’m already off to a good start with the whole weekly movie review plan. I have been a bit busy with interviews in San Francisco and other things, so that is why my Speed Racer review is coming to you now instead of Saturday, May 10th.

Growing up I watched a lot of cartoons, naturally, but one I didn’t watch very often was Speed Racer. I knew what it was, but for reasons I don’t know any more, I didn’t watch it that much. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were my primary animated interest as a child - rightfully so too. In high school I started watching anime (Japanese animated shows and movies). It all started with watching the Freeza Saga in Dragonball Z, and I have been watching a series here and there ever since (Bleach and Naruto Shippuuden currently). I mention that because the anime style of action and storytelling is very familiar to me, something that is also familiar in the Speed Racer film (this will come in a bit later in the review).

I liked this film, I really did. I went into it knowing of the show by reputation only, expecting a fun, digital ride by the Wachowski brothers and a storyline that isn’t too deep – it’s marketed as a children’s movie after all. It met my expectations and then some. Call me sappy, but I like stories that concern an entire family fighting to resolve something together. It deals with a family coming together to overcome a big obstacle and standing by each other. It was very moving, I loved it.

The cast was really interesting to me. I wouldn’t think of Susan Sarandon to play Mom in what is basically an animated children’s film, but it was great to see her in it and I think she did the part fantastically. Now I’ve always liked John Goodman, as a kid I thought the Flintstone’s movie was great, and while I’ve been watching the West Wing lately, I enjoyed him in his brief role. I was really happy to see that he has gotten himself in better shape; he acts better and is more enjoyable to watch on screen (and I was a little worried about him when he was at his heavier weight). His role as Pops was great. A bit predictable at times, but overall I think his role in the story fit well and was very touching.

Mathew Fox is growing on me. I have been watching Lost since season one (and so should you, it’s fantastic), but I didn’t really like him at first. I think he’s evolving as an actor well and transitioning into films well too. What was done with Racer X worked, the twist at the end explaining the accident and face manipulation explained things nicely.

Spritle and Chim Chim were hilarious. They were a bit overused as the comic relief of the film, but really fun to watch. The fight scene when they were watching cartoons – awesome.

Speed and Trixie worked. I think Trixie was a great role for Christina Ricci to break out of the type of characters she usually plays. She looked fantastic as Trixie and I hope that we get to see her doing more light-hearted films like Speed Racer. In the animated show I do remember the mach speeds that Trixie spoke at. I don’t think it’s humanly possible to speak that fast without alteration, but she had some moments that reminded me of it. Not much to say about Emile Hirsch as Speed, he did an adequate job. Nothing that stood out to me, but that doesn’t mean he did a bad job. He was enjoyable to watch as Speed Racer.

The action was great. The movie is cut like a high-speed, action-packed film and there is a lot of fun to it. If you have ever watched anime, you are familiar with the action lines that appear in dramatic fights as the character is charging towards its opponent in a fighting pose. I laughed out loud the first time I saw that happen in this film. The fight that happens in the middle of the grand prix with the snow falling was great. Utilizing the snow as a visual and dynamic element added a lot to the fight with a sense of motion and speed. The hand-drawn settings that happen in the movie twice were very cool. I thought it fit the story and film perfectly. This film walked a very fine line, very successfully, of creating a live-action animated film. As in, it was clear that most of the movie was done in post-production and was very over the top, out of this world elements and technology. But it worked, it worked very well.

This is another solid film from the Wachowski brothers that doesn’t tell the audience blatantly that there is a sequel (perhaps they are sticking to stand alone films to make up for botching the Matrix trilogy? (by popular opinion, I liked the third one)). If you like fast-paced action, fun humor, a touching story, are in touch with the Saturday morning cartoons side of your childhood, and of course automobile racing, go see Speed Racer – it’s a great ride.

4.5 out of 5