Speed Racer

Name: Speed Racer
Genre: Action, Sport, Family
Released: May 9, 2008
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 37
Cast: Emile Hirsch

2008

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 481 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 481 Ratings

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Speed Racer

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: May 9, 2008 | PG

Starring: Emile Hirsch

Summary: Hurtling down the track, careening around, over, and through the competition, Speed Racer is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive, and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized--the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacyHurtling down the track, careening around, over, and through the competition, Speed Racer is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive, and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized--the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer, the designer of Speed's thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company's maniacal owner but uncovers a terrible secret--some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless tycoons who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won't drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that Speed never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family's business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie, Speed teams with his one-time rival--the mysterious Racer X--to win the race that had taken his brother's life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as the Crucible. Yet, the ultimate test of Speed Racer's true racing grit will be at the pinnacle event of the World Racing League, the Grand Prix. But standing between Speed and the checkered flag are the world's best--and most cutthroat--competitors, fueled by a million-dollar bounty from Royalton to the driver who takes Speed out once and for all. (Warner Bros. Pictures)… Expand

Director: Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski

Genre(s): Action, Sport, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 135 min

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Critic Reviews

Premiere Glenn Kenny

This is not a film occurring in an alternate or imaginary reality; rather, it is a film of NO reality, that is, a picture that changes the rules of its universe strictly according to its creators' whims. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Speed Racer announces the arrival of the virtual movie. If you watch the film overwhelmed by the assault of seductive visual information and wonder what you're seeing, here's the happy answer: the future of movies. Read full review

Kirk Honeycutt

Unlike a Pixar cartoon that embraces as wide an audience as possible, Speed Racer proudly denies entry into its ultra-bright world to all but gamers, fanboys and anime enthusiasts. Story and character are tossed aside to focus obsessively on PG-rated action and milk-guzzling heroes. Read full review

Michael Sragow

It's a family film done as a trip film. It is a trip, but it's a bad trip. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

Speed Racer is chaotic as a six-ring circus, gaudy as a transvestites convention and soullessly cute as a robot puppy. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Chances are, after they've passed the two-hour mark, viewers will share the same collective, if unspoken, wish: Go, Speed Racer. Go. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

This isn't a picture filled with wonder and a sense of fun; it's so jaded and crass that I almost wonder if it's a highly unscientific experiment designed to gauge how little audiences will settle for these days. Manic and multicolored, Speed Racer is an excess of nothingness. Read full review

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User Reviews

DaveN

Aug 8, 2009

It's more than a year after this movie was released. Few even knew there was a Speed Racer movie it seems, and even fewer cared to see it. I was one of those people and oh boy, am I ever sorry. A trailer means NOTHING for this type of movie. While one their own, certain scenes might It's more than a year after this movie was released. Few even knew there was a Speed Racer movie it seems, and even fewer cared to see it. I was one of those people and oh boy, am I ever sorry. A trailer means NOTHING for this type of movie. While one their own, certain scenes might appear unwatchable and the dialogue too sappy for most, as a whole this movie has escalated to the top of my list of favorite movies in the past couple years. I can't get it out of my head. The shmaltz, the eye-ravaging colours, the exhilarating soundtrack, the heart pounding races, and the comic genius --- When you become obsessed with everything related to a movie, you know it was something special. If you're gut tells you to avoid this movie, it's probably just gas.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful

memodelrio

May 16, 2008

To hell with critics, this is a really enjoyable film.... excellent! best i have seen in years.. very refreshing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

OscarV.

Jan 17, 2009

I love this movie regardless what the critics said. It was fun and I was surprised by the deep family story. Made me tear up at the end when Racer X revealed his true identity.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ManuelV.

May 7, 2008

This is going to be a difficult pill to swallow for many. The young and the young at heart will be able to suspend disbelief and enjoy the visually stunning stylistic direction of the Wachowski's.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

HarlanK.

May 14, 2008

This movie is dazzling. It is so bight and saturated that the real world will look incredibly dull and gray after you step out of the theatre. It really does overwhelm the senses and provides enough stimulation to power a medium sized city. Seriously, if you want to see just how extreme This movie is dazzling. It is so bight and saturated that the real world will look incredibly dull and gray after you step out of the theatre. It really does overwhelm the senses and provides enough stimulation to power a medium sized city. Seriously, if you want to see just how extreme film making can be, see this movie. And of course the story is weak, it's based on a cartoon ffs. You have to suspend disbelief of this movie won't be able to work it's magic. And if you're lucky enough to live near an IMAX theater that is showing this, you've GOT to go. It's brilliant.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Stu

May 10, 2008

This is a true example of critics falling all over themselves to sneer at a film that they consider below their lofty perch. The film is nothing but enjoyable - pure saccharine, full of riotous colors and deliberately cardboard performances that hit the right notes. Maybe a little too long, This is a true example of critics falling all over themselves to sneer at a film that they consider below their lofty perch. The film is nothing but enjoyable - pure saccharine, full of riotous colors and deliberately cardboard performances that hit the right notes. Maybe a little too long, but the kid in you (and with you) won't care...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AlJ.

May 13, 2008

This is absolutely disgusting. A complete waste of time.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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11	#11 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
88	#88 Most Shared Movie of 2008