The Wachowski brothers have tumbled into a matrix of their own with "Speed Racer," one that has rendered them completely out of touch with the outside world. In adapting the 1960s Japanese anime TV series, the writer/directors have created a noisy, overlong, mind-numbing extravaganza that seems tailor-made for nobody but themselves and their twisted sensibilities.
At two hours and 15 minutes, it's much too long for little kids. Nostalgic adults will just be disappointed, because "Speed Racer" the movie bears little resemblance to "Speed Racer" the cartoon. Even racing fans will have trouble, because the races are edited in such a way that it's impossible to tell who's in the lead, who's gaining and where the finish line is.
Emile Hirsch stars as Speed Racer, who likes to race and still misses his older brother, Rex, who died suspiciously in competition years ago. Christina Ricci co-stars in the inert, thankless role of Speed's girlfriend, Trixie. The story has something to do with the corrupt mogul Royalton (Roger Allam), who fixes races and wants to drag Speed over to the dark side. Speed must defend himself against this corporate crook's schemes by teaming up with Racer X (Matthew Fox) and Japanese rival Taejo Togokahn, played by Korean pop star Rain. Speed also gets help, somewhat, from his pesky younger brother Spritle (Paulie Litt), who has a knack for showing up at all the wrong times with the family's pet chimpanzee, Chim-Chim.
The costumes and production design do make "Speed Racer" tolerable at times with their evocative sense of midcentury kitsch. But "Speed Racer" is, of course and unfortunately, mainly about the races -- a never-ending blur of lights and color, an overlapping cacophony of drivers and announcers, flying car parts and flailing crowds. Afterward, the last thing you'll want to do is get into your own car. But you may have a craving for Skittles. (Rated PG.)
