The Wachowski Brothers mark their directorial return after a five years off with the kid and LCD-user friendly Speed Racer.
The Plot:
Speed Racer, looks up to his brother Rex Racer who races cars. However, Rex Racer gets killed and then Speed Racer needs to race to win. Or something. The plot is inconsequential when it isn't incomprehensible.
Good:
• This movie REALLY looks like a cracked out acid trip. There's a weird hyperactive energy here that's all over the place. The final race where Speed wins (spoiler I guess, sorry), ends with a 2001-esque sequence that plays out like a hyperactive visual orgasm. It takes the style of the old cartoon and ramps it up.
• The movie is at it's best when it's really pushing how over the top it is. Whenever their crazy shit is going on you can't tear your eyes away.
• The kid and the monkey are distractingly annoying less often than you would expect (although they are still distractingly annoying).
Bad:
• The plot.
• Any sequence where the hyperactive style goes away and it becomes more like a regular movie. There are two scenes in particular where Speed is getting a pep talk from his parents that just DRAG.
• The kid and the monkey.
• The idea that Racer X could be anyone BUT Speed's brother Rex. Seriously.
• It was too long.
Overall:
It was impressively insane. I don't know if it was enjoyable though. Not really.
Post a Comment 2 comments:
Dan, you can't leave speed racer as your review showcase. That's straight up wackness (to be distinguished from straight up The Wackness).
I realize you're probably still in a period of shameful seclusion having seen The Happening, but... Hulk? Wanted? Get Smart? Etc.? Get on it, Man!
Friday, June 27, 2008 1:27:00 PM
Also disheartening: the lack of coverage for the new Fast & Furious trailer.
You can make up for it by revealing at the end of the post that you were actually a cop all along.
Monday, August 25, 2008 2:25:00 PM