If there ever was a Hollywood equivalent of a Bollywood masala movie, then it definitely is Speed Racer. An English film based on the Japanese anime series created by Tatsuo Yoshida, Speed Racer takes the cake when it comes to over-the-top entertainment and you will come out of it thoroughly satisfied.
The movie tells the story of a boy called Speed (Emile Hirsch), born to the Racer family, whose passion is to make fast cars. Speed loves being behind the wheel, like Pops Racer (John Goodman) and older brother Rex Racer, whose death on the racetrack is shrouded in mystery.
When Speed spurns a lucrative offer by Royalton Industries to hire him as its racer, he uncovers the truth that the biggest racers are fixed. Speed joins hands with rivals Racers Ex (Matthew Fox) and Taejo Togokahn (Ji Hoon Jung) to break this stranglehold.
Though two races are created in great detail, please do not look for logic behind surviving some of the worst crashes. In spite of being gaming averse, I had a great time watching the movie. With computer graphics galore, this one is every gaming enthusiast’s fantasy, and there is humor thrown in by way of a pudgy younger brother and a chimp.
The best part is it doesn’t pretend to be a superlative film, but does exactly what it has been cut out for — good laughs and joystick fun
Directors: Larry and Andy Wachowski
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Ji Hoon Jung
Language: English