I was a huge Speed Racer fan as a kid. The series began when I was two weeks old, and ended production just weeks after my first birthday, but in that short span, they made 52 episodes that would captivate me as a young boy. As an adult, I realized how lame the plot twists were in the original 1967 cartoon series, but I enjoyed and appreciated it just the same. Because of that, I eagerly anticipated the live action (sort of) Speed Racer feature film that opened this weekend, but deep down, I expected disappointment, especially after my disappointment with the 1993 redo animated series The New Adventures of Speed Racer.
I was not disappointed. This movie kicks Royalton ass. Once again, Speed Racer and Racer X are my heroes.
It's getting mixed reviews from the critics, but they don't entirely get it. The casting was brilliant. I think I'm glad that the original picks for Speed (Johnny Depp) and Racer X (Henry Rollins) backed out. Emile Hirsch and Matthew Fox were awesome. Roger Allam played a great villian with a Tim Curry-like deviousness. The race scenes were captivating. The plot twists were less implausible than the cartoon series twists. The cartoonish fight scenes were hilarious (intentionally so). I almost spit my drink out when Chim-Chim fulfilled his destiny and became a poo-flinging monkey. The special effects were more modern and thoroughly enjoyable. The language was, too. Later in the film, Speed uttered my favorite film line of 2008: "Get that weak shit off my track!" (they say "ass" a few times, too). Cartoon Pops never said "ass," but he, this is a movie, not a Saturday morning cartoon.
In short, this movie is everything a 40 year old boy could ever ask for in an action movie, and more.
If you ever liked Speed Racer, you are going to love Speed Racer the Movie.
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