Speed Racer

The Wachowski brothers, who gave us The Matrix trilogy and V for Vendetta, hit the critical and commercial wall with this curiously uninvolving adaptation of a popular Japanimation series from the 1960s. The story begins some time after the discrediting and apparent death of matchless racecar driver Rex Racer, most likely at the hands of operatives working for ruthless auto magnate E.P. Arnold Royalton (Roger Allam). Rex's younger brother Speed (Emile Hirsch) eventually follows in his sibling's footsteps (or should we say tire tracks?) by becoming a top competitor in his own right, thanks to the support of his Pops (John Goodman), Mom (Susan Sarandon), kid brother Spritle (Paulie Litt), and a pet chimp named Chim Chim. In his souped-up, family-designed Mach 5, Speed takes on Royalton's drivers at every opportunity, aided by his sexy, resourceful girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) and the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox). Sporting a garish, neon-like look, Speed Racer suggests a bastard offspring of an animated cartoon and a video game, but while the film is undeniably stylish, it's also cold and sterile, with dialogue that is flat and unconvincing. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a 16-minute “Supercharged!” featurette on drivers and cars in the film, a 15-minute “Spritle in the Big Leagues” set tour with costar Paulie Litt, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray version is the 27-minute behind-the-scenes featurette “Car-Fu Cinema,” the “Crucible Challenge” interactive game bonus disc, and a bonus digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a sparse extras package for a disappointing film.] (E. Hulse)