Speed Racer Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 12132

Average Rating: 2.3/4

# of Ratings: 90

Theatrical Release Date: 05/09/2008

Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: 09/16/2008

Language: English

Genre: Action, Adventure

MPAA Rating: PG

Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski

Actors: Emile Hirsch, John Goodman, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Richard Roundtree

Plot: Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural born racer who lives for speed. His only real competition in life has been his brother Rex Racer who died and left Speed as the only real racer. Speed turns down an offer to race for a mega-corporation and when he does their owner wants to see that he never crosses the finish line. -- Josh C

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 06/25/2019

"Speed Racer" is too much of a good thing. There's too many characters, the visuals (although mesmerizing) are overwhelming and a little disorienting, and there's often too much going on. Thankfully, its zippy pace and sense of fun help this colorful bit of camp reach the finish line.

Matthew Brady - wrote on 09/07/2014

Biggest flop at the box office and I know why.

mimschkin - wrote on 01/26/2010

When watched on a big screen, the graphics of Speed Racer will most likely give you a seizure. However, I do have an appreciation for the colour palette and I liked the super-shiny feel of the whole thing. The story is a bit crazy to say the least (generally the application of anime style and subject matter onto a live-action US production has this effect) and it is predictable, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it well enough.

patjohnson76
Producer

Awful

patjohnson76 - wrote on 12/31/2008

The Wachowski's overburden Speed Racer with the same problem they gave the Matrix sequels - too much of wow-look-what-we-can-do special effects that results in a sacrifice of story, plot, character development, exposition - pretty much everything you need to make a movie.

When the effects aren't inducing dizziness and headaches, you'll be bored to tears by a cast of talented actors who are given an incomprensible plot to follow along with. There's really nothing engaging here at all.

I have to be honest that at about 90 minutes in, my DVD player crapped out and wouldn't play the rest. It's probably because I need to get a new one, but I'd like to think that my DVD player decided it simply couldn't put me through the torture anymore. Well played, DVD player, well played.

Franz Patrick
Movie God

It's Like Mario Kart!

Franz Patrick - wrote on 07/20/2008

I've been waiting for this film for quite some time and I'm glad to not have been disappointed. The visuals are great because I've never seen anything like it. While colours and eye-popping action sequences are abound, it still manages to have some sort of story. Since this movie is targeted toward kids, the dialogue is not that deep (and sometimes a bit cheesy). I kind of felt that the filmmakers almost tried to simplify certain storylines a bit too much. That aside, my main problem with it is that it's a bit too long--over two hours--for children. I hardly know many adults who can handle movies that are two hours long, let alone children who have enough patience for all that, despite its amazing visuals. But shockingly enough, the kids that I was with in the cinema seemed to have fun. …

lmlewis517
Rising Star

From cartoon to sur-real life

lmlewis517 - wrote on 06/22/2008

Speed Racer was no less than an exhilarating ride in the end. From the story development to the psychadelic ride at the end. Also for the comic book fans, you'll appreciate the reference to all of the classic speed-racer talk, mechanisms, and who can forget the squinched-up face on John Goodman's character. Priceless... it took me back to the cartoon! I think the Wachowski brothers did their darnest to bring Speed Racer to life. Why do other people not like or enjoy this film? Maybe it's the basics of the colors? Maybe it's just that we really wanted to let Racer X's mystery be a bit more mysterious. Whatever the case, both the color and dynamic action in the film is more than what I remember in its animated version... and I liked it! Good job, Wachowski brothers!