R.A.G.E. Media

If my movie reviews get any kind of notoriety, it will be because they are late. This review of Speed Racer, coming 2 weeks after the video release, is actually early for me. We watch movies most new movies when they reach our price point: free. In most cases, this means waiting 4-8 weeks for the library’s copy to reach us after working its way down a waiting list of as many as 100 other patrons.

I’ve never seen the Speed Racer cartoons as a kid. In fact, when I first heard of the movie I was more intrigued by the writing/directing team of the Wachowski brothers. A kid’s movie to be done by the creators of The Matrix and V for Vendetta? The thought made me shudder.

But when the chance came to see it on DVD for free, I snapped it up to see just how bad it would be. Keep in mind, I appreciate the Wachowski’s cinematography and writing, I just could not fathom what they would do to a children’s cartoon.

In a nutshell, it blew me away. Sure, multiple plot twists, CG special effects, more action than the eye could actually take in - that was all expected and delivered spectacularly. What shocked and surprised me was the family values that were expressed.

Without giving away too much of the plot, there is one scene that particularly expresses ideals and an example I have long ceased to expect from Hollywood, and much less the Wachowskis. Pop Racer confronts his second son, Speed, as the young man is about to leave home - in exactly the same manner his brother Rex had 8 years earlier.

His father, who had exploded in rage at the eldest son’s departure, invites Speed to sit down with him before he leaves, and says:

Pops Racer:I went to Cortega because I was afraid what happened to Rex was gonna happen to you, and I couldn’t take that. But once we got there, I realized something. I didn’t lose Rex when he crashed, I lost him right here. I let him think a stupid motor company was more important to me than he was. You’ll never know how much I regret that mistake. It’s enough that I’ll never make it again. Speed, I know every child has to leave home. I just want you to know that that door is always open. You can always come back. ‘Cause I love you, son.
…
Pops Racer: I couldn’t have been more proud of you, son. Not because you won, but because you stood up, you weren’t afraid, and you did what you thought was right.
Speed: It didn’t amount to anything. It was completely meaningless.
Pops Racer: How could it be meaningless? I saw my son become a man. I watched a man with courage and integrity drive the pants off of every other driver on that road. This is not meaningless. This is the reason for a father’s life.
(Thanks to IMDB users for typing up the quotes)

The overarching theme of doing what is right, and the importance of family in a 21st century major motion picture was completely unexpected.

I should mention that there is still some language, rude gestures, and what they now refer to as “sci-fi violence” (Aka bloodless violence) in the film, so parents should still preview before showing it to the kids.