REVIEW: Speed Racer - PG

The story

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) idolizes his older brother Rex (Scott Porter), killed in a racing car accident. Pops Racer (John Goodman) builds racing cars. He and Mom (Susan Sarandon), younger brother Spritle (Paulie Litt), and Speed's girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) support Speed's racing ambitions. Of his family, Speed says, "Racing's in our blood. It's like a religion." His success attracts billionaire businessman Royalton (Roger Allam). He offers Speed a lucrative deal to race for the Royalton Industries team, but Speed turns him down because, he says, "My family means a lot to me." "I know, I can tell," says Royalton, cynically. Royalton determines to destroy Speed. That's the set up.

Can Royalton and his crooked friends defeat Speed? What's Inspector Detector (Benno Furmann) and Racer X's (Matthew Fox) game? Will Speed and Trixie ever kiss? If these seem vital questions and you've got an active inner kid, see "Speed Racer."

Actors

Characters are intentionally one-dimensional. Emile Hirsch is Speed, a straight arrow, always focused on racing. Even his elementary school teacher admonishes him - "Speed Racer! Slow down!" John Goodman and Susan Sarandon are Pops and Mom Racer, earnest parents. Mom holds the family together. Pops runs his small business, unimpressed by Royalton's billions. "People like you," says Pops to Royalton, "have way too much money." Royalton is the unrepentant villain. "All that matters is power and the unattainable might of money," he says. "That's my religion!"

Other actors include Christina Ricci as faithful and plucky girlfriend Trixie, Kirk Gurry as Sparky, loyal employee of Racer Moters, and funny Paulie Litt as younger brother Spritle Racer. Young audience members can identify with him. Willy and Kenzie play Chim Chim, the Racer family's chimpanzee.

Other comments

"Speed Racer" is live-action, kid-friendly, cartoon-like, over-the-top entertainment. Based on a 1970s TV cartoon series by Tatsuo Yoshida, it's written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers - Andy and Larry - best known for their "Matrix" films. Kids will like its (almost) non-stop action, in-your-face primary colors, simple good guys/bad guys plot, and goofy humor. As Spritle Racer often says, "Cool! Sweet!" For adults, on the other hand, it's a long 135 minutes. My inner kid wearied after the first hour and a half. Three races, a subplot with Japanese racer Taejo Togokham (Rain), a score of international racing announcers, and ninja martial arts was too much. Still, "Speed Racer" has parent-friendly moral lessons - loyalty and grit will triumph, but cheaters never prosper. PG for action, violence and some language.

Final words

Hot wheels "Speed Racer" -

Everything goes zoom!

Colorful, kid-friendly

Live action car-toon.