SPEED RACER is an entertaining creative misfire that is full of many wonderful moments only to be dragged down from classic family film status from the things that annoy me.  Then some of the animation is too colorful and loud at times.  The direction and acting kept me glued, but still the damn chimp and kid brother were two characters I wish I would see less of (like the big candy raid scene and interrupting Speed and Trixie kissing twice). I enjoyed Speed and Racer X hats off to Emile Hirsch and Matthew Fox for playing them so well.  Christina Ricci is fun as Trixie and yet I wish I knew more about trixie.   The biggest problem is that the Wachowski Brothers have created a family film that talks too much to the kiddie level instead of having every person on an equal level of intelligence as a viewer.  I hope the next effort from the directing duo will be as well-focused as the film that brought them fame- THE MATRIX.

this movie review is (c)5-11-2008 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com