Review of Speed Racer (2008) by S P — 27 Feb 2011

If you don't know what kind of movie you're getting into, you may think very little of Speed Racer after watching it. This movie is a tribute to the old cartoon show, as well as Saturday morning cartoons in general. It's loaded with over-the-top villains and dialogue, and some of the flashiest special effects I've ever seen. In fact, I don't think I've ever watched a movie this colorful. It's literal eye candy.

Despite its low RT rating, I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed this film. Every character was very enjoyable to watch, and the dialogue comes off as very funny, as long as you think of this as a live action cartoon, because I think that's what this film's trying to be.

I will also say that if you watch films in Blu-ray format, than this movie is worth a look just on that principle. This is one of the most outstanding-looking Blu-ray films around. The action looks spectacular and the colors pop off the screen to where you may think you're a kid having some kind of sugar rush fantasy. If you're susceptable to seizures, however, you may want to be careful (and no, I'm not exaggerating).

Whether or not you're a fan of the show (which I hardly was), I think this movie is very enjoyable. Some may find its 2-hour plus running time a little much, and if you aren't for the cartoonish dialogue then that'll likely kill the movie for you. But for those looking for something funny, colorful, and filled with ridiculous action, Speed Racer is a surprisingly good movie.