OK I've just seen the film. So let's sum this up:
* It is basically a live-action cartoon.
* It is a mix of the old cartoon and modern anime/videogame aesthetics.
* Said aesthetics in many cases are what you get when you let Willy Wonka make Bladerunner.
* It is FILLED with references to the old cartoon so they knew what they were doing.
* It is not a totally remake or sequel, more an homage - what the cartoon SEEMED to be to people like me who watched it when I was eight. Thus it aspired to be very great in being a giant living cartoon treat, and modest in that it doesn't try and make it more than it seems to be.
* Because of this modesty, it actually succeeds quite well, and gives people room to breathe and do their work.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected - and had a bit of a doubt because let's face it, its the folks behind "The Matrix" who are capable of delivering great things THEN setting you up for massive disappointments. Like a future where guys fight robots in power suits with OPEN CABINS.
Except in this case, unbound by any need (real or perceived) to be grim and gritty, the W. brothers deliver a giant big living cartoon. And it works.
It's basically a whole Speed Racer story, from origin to major plot conclusion, where our young hero fights conspiracies manipulating racing with the help of Racer X (who, as we were often reminded, is Speed's Brother). There's colorful villains that make Dick Tracy's rogue's gallery look tame and sane, eye-watering special effects, and in general it's extremely over the top.
It is, in short, an art film. Really. It's not about making something that fits "good" or "fashionable" or "classic" - it's an attempt to make a live cartoon. It's really more in the vein of Scooby Doo, 300, etc. Realism or much of anything else need not apply. Which actually makes it work, since you really shouldn't have any more expectations than seeing how they get it onto the screen.
Fortunately, that's done well, and its enhanced by some good (to great) acting. This was one thing I heard reviewers bashing, but frankly I don't know where it came from. Everyone is decent to really on the ball (especially hard given source material thats not exactly deep), and there are a few scenes that are actually impressive. A few standouts:
* John Goodman's Pop's Racer. Goodman is of course talented, but gives Pop's quite a temper and a bit of ego - as well as a love of his family.
* Matt Fox's Racer X. Matt does the stattaco delivery, the square jaw, and the vague badass air VERY well. He could carry his own film if he wanted.
* Paulie Litt as Spridle. Gods this could have been a role that was annoying and appaling. Fortunately Paulie, who shows signs of being quite the natural comedian, does well, and isn't cloying or bothersome - he's basically a kid that gets into trouble, makes assumptions, and constantly hides in trunks with a Chimp. By not OVERDOING the character, Litt makes him actually fun.
* Susan Sarandon as Mom. She doesn't get enough screentime (a bit of a shame considering her talents), but she has some great scenes with Emile Hirsch that are very well done.
* Kick Gurry as Sparky. Yes, Sparky, the Jimmy Olsen of Speed Racer. There's not a lot to do here (and I think he took some hints from comic interpretations), but Sparky comes off more as "Scotty" - a loyal engineer and unabashed technophile. The actor also does quite well.
* Emile Hirsch as Speed Racer. Emile reminds me a lot of Tom Welling in Smallville - handed a role that could be something of a boring boyscout, he powers ahead with sincerity at full force. He doesn't act up a storm, but he works WITH the good actor's he's presented with.
So, in short it's a big fun film meant entirely if you loved the cartoon or want to get your mind blown with effects. It's giant, silly, but done with total straightfacedness and a kind of weird modern-retro sensibility. It's probably going to be a cult classic as opposed to something foundational, but I had a heck of a lot of fun with it.
* It is basically a live-action cartoon.
* It is a mix of the old cartoon and modern anime/videogame aesthetics.
* Said aesthetics in many cases are what you get when you let Willy Wonka make Bladerunner.
* It is FILLED with references to the old cartoon so they knew what they were doing.
* It is not a totally remake or sequel, more an homage - what the cartoon SEEMED to be to people like me who watched it when I was eight. Thus it aspired to be very great in being a giant living cartoon treat, and modest in that it doesn't try and make it more than it seems to be.
* Because of this modesty, it actually succeeds quite well, and gives people room to breathe and do their work.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected - and had a bit of a doubt because let's face it, its the folks behind "The Matrix" who are capable of delivering great things THEN setting you up for massive disappointments. Like a future where guys fight robots in power suits with OPEN CABINS.
Except in this case, unbound by any need (real or perceived) to be grim and gritty, the W. brothers deliver a giant big living cartoon. And it works.
It's basically a whole Speed Racer story, from origin to major plot conclusion, where our young hero fights conspiracies manipulating racing with the help of Racer X (who, as we were often reminded, is Speed's Brother). There's colorful villains that make Dick Tracy's rogue's gallery look tame and sane, eye-watering special effects, and in general it's extremely over the top.
It is, in short, an art film. Really. It's not about making something that fits "good" or "fashionable" or "classic" - it's an attempt to make a live cartoon. It's really more in the vein of Scooby Doo, 300, etc. Realism or much of anything else need not apply. Which actually makes it work, since you really shouldn't have any more expectations than seeing how they get it onto the screen.
Fortunately, that's done well, and its enhanced by some good (to great) acting. This was one thing I heard reviewers bashing, but frankly I don't know where it came from. Everyone is decent to really on the ball (especially hard given source material thats not exactly deep), and there are a few scenes that are actually impressive. A few standouts:
* John Goodman's Pop's Racer. Goodman is of course talented, but gives Pop's quite a temper and a bit of ego - as well as a love of his family.
* Matt Fox's Racer X. Matt does the stattaco delivery, the square jaw, and the vague badass air VERY well. He could carry his own film if he wanted.
* Paulie Litt as Spridle. Gods this could have been a role that was annoying and appaling. Fortunately Paulie, who shows signs of being quite the natural comedian, does well, and isn't cloying or bothersome - he's basically a kid that gets into trouble, makes assumptions, and constantly hides in trunks with a Chimp. By not OVERDOING the character, Litt makes him actually fun.
* Susan Sarandon as Mom. She doesn't get enough screentime (a bit of a shame considering her talents), but she has some great scenes with Emile Hirsch that are very well done.
* Kick Gurry as Sparky. Yes, Sparky, the Jimmy Olsen of Speed Racer. There's not a lot to do here (and I think he took some hints from comic interpretations), but Sparky comes off more as "Scotty" - a loyal engineer and unabashed technophile. The actor also does quite well.
* Emile Hirsch as Speed Racer. Emile reminds me a lot of Tom Welling in Smallville - handed a role that could be something of a boring boyscout, he powers ahead with sincerity at full force. He doesn't act up a storm, but he works WITH the good actor's he's presented with.
So, in short it's a big fun film meant entirely if you loved the cartoon or want to get your mind blown with effects. It's giant, silly, but done with total straightfacedness and a kind of weird modern-retro sensibility. It's probably going to be a cult classic as opposed to something foundational, but I had a heck of a lot of fun with it.
