My buddy Dave took me as the +1 to the press screener of Speed Racer this evening.
HOLY CRAP IT WAS WONDERFUL!
Yes, I’m shouting. I don’t care. This flick was everything I had hoped it would be.
You have to understand, that when I was knee-high to a grasshopper there were two shows that I DID NOT MISS. One was Speed Racer. The other was B.J. and the Bear. Hmmm … both shows prominently feature driving and chimpanzees. Coincidence? But really, this tells you just about everything you need to know about how the mind of a seven-year-old boy works.
And if you are, or ever have been, a seven-year-old boy, THIS IS THE MOVIE FOR YOU. With Speed Racer The Wachowski Brothers have created a world where racing is king, the laws of physics don’t apply, comic violence is art and Willy Wonka’s choice of color palettes would be considered “understated.” There’s no shortage of rocket powered cars, cool gadgets, explosions or monkey poop gags.
Seriously, if you even remotely remember what it was like being seven years old, you can’t help but love this movie. (I’m not even ashamed to admit that I cried.)
The kids in the audience clapped at more than a few moments. The critic sitting next to me even gasped “YES!” under his breath when the trademark saw blades popped out of the front of the Mach 5. Yes, this movie totally scored with those in its two core target audiences: Those seven year olds, and every 30-40 year old geezer in the audience who remembers watching the show every afternoon they could.
Seriously, this movie was perfect. (OK, not quite perfect … the Black-Eyed-Peas-esque song over the closing credits practically chased me from the theater.)
But no doubt, there are plenty of people who will probably hate this film, or at the very least should not watch it:
1. People who get motion sick
2. People who may be epileptic or seizure-prone
3. People for whom everything must “make sense”
4. People who can’t appreciate a good monkey poo joke
5. Anyone else who can’t see the world with the wide-eyed wonder of a kid
It’s 3:30am and I’m still totally jazzed about the movie. It may be late, and I may be a little giddy from the lack of sleep, but there are three things I know for certain:
1. I’m going to have to go see this again in the theater.
2. I’m totally jealous of this guy from Road and Track.
3. I need a girlfriend who can fly a helicopter.
7 Comments
Amy huff · 7 May 2008 at 8:47 AM
And a puppy, I think you need a puppy since a chimp just isn’t practical.
cad · 7 May 2008 at 9:50 AM
*SOOOOO JEALOUS*
Can’t wait to see this at the IMAX! :)
Bo · 7 May 2008 at 3:23 PM
Amy! What’s not practical about a chimp? Chimps are SO MUCH more practical than puppies!
Chimps can feed themselves.
Chimps can be competitive with a Navy Seal on an obstacle course.
Chimps can play PAC MAN!
Chimps can go to Japan and figure out how to ride the trains! (Most Americans can’t do that!)
Dogs are more practical. Sheesh.
Bo · 7 May 2008 at 3:51 PM
CAD: Yes, this movie DEFINITELY warrants a special trip to see it in IMAX!
TrixieknowsCasper · 8 May 2008 at 7:37 AM
I had no interest in seeing this movie until i read your review.
now i just dread listening to Russ Martin and him bitch about how he’s had a mock 5 car for years. I wish music was good these days or i’d listen to a real radio station.
seeamap · 8 May 2008 at 4:02 PM
You ought to check out the Japanese version. I think it is called Mahha GoGoGo. Yes I am a geek that way!
Bo · 8 May 2008 at 4:47 PM
You think I’m an amateur when it comes to Speed Racer, Carol?
“Mach 5, GÅ Mifune, Go!”
Little known fact, the inspiration for Speed Racer was Elvis’s old racing movies. (You can see the resemblance, even in the outfits.)
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