Death Race 2050

Roger Corman produced this updated direct-to-video remake of his 1975 cult film Death Race 2000, an extreme action movie that also features cartoonish satire aimed at modern politics, reality TV, and popular culture. The premise is simple: in a future of mass unemployment and ecological devastation, a cross-country road race is the biggest media event of the year and the drivers earn extra points by running down civilians. It's the Indy 500 by way of The Hunger Games, hosted by the Chairman of the United Corporation of America (Malcolm McDowell). Manu Bennett stars as the returning champion and Marci Miller is his co-pilot and traveling reporter, wearing a full-body camera that beams a virtual reality experience out to the media-sedated citizens. She's also a member of the rabid revolutionary underground, which plots to take out the drivers in full view of the audience. The flamboyant lampooning here falls well short of smart political commentary—the humor is more cheeky than biting in filmmaker G.J. Echternkamp's action comedy spoof that is full of over-the-top violence and gratuitous nudity. Still, this delivers decent B-movie action with some funny gags, and the Corman name will draw interest. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)