Sunday 26 September 2010

Speed Racer: Review

The Wachowski Brothers haven't been behind the camera since the last Matrix film. Well, maybe they should have stayed away. For this film version of an old 60s Japanese cartoon is all colour and no substance.

The very thin plot involves corruption in the motor racing industry and the loss of a brother for the title character...and that's about it. But just throwing everything at a screen and hoping it sticks doesn't make a good movie. Coming on like a 21st Century Tron, this is loud both in sound and visuals.

But not only is it just a special effects extravaganza, but it has the most annoying kid since the one in Problem Child, and a monkey as the comic relief. Sorry but I just wanted to scream every time they appeared. And what was Susan Sarandon doing in this? Has her career really gone that far downhill?

There something else...the uneven tone! It was all over the place. Do we laugh? Do we cry? Do we boo? Do we cheer? I've been to pantomimes that were more even.

And yes, it was FAR too long. 2hrs and 15 mins???? And who exactly is it aimed at? Young kids may like the prettiness of it, but will struggle with the long, drawn-out dialogue scenes which magically all link by the end, and may suffer from numb-bum by the end. Adults will be bored with the stupidity of it and so that really only leaves the teen market, and even they may find there's not enough blood, guts and gore.

So that leaves... the comic book fans...but I won't even go there for fear of starting a riot.

All in all, a mess. Like looking at modern art. It's bright. It's colourful. But no one really knows what it is.

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