Speed Racer (PG-13)
1.5 (out of 4)
Acting in the interests of his car-building dad (John Goodman) and his dead, racing-legend older brother, hot young driver Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) turns down big-budget sponsorship from a sleazy entrepreneur (Roger Allam) who claims that all major races are fixed. That turns the businessman into a foe along Speed’s quest for glory on the track, where his mom (Susan Sarandon), his girlfriend (Christina Ricci), his younger brother and a pet chimp cheer him on. Matthew Fox also stars as mysterious Racer X.
Big question: Can writers-directors the Wachowski Brothers (“The Matrix”), with help from “300”-style green screen effects, deliver fast-moving, visually splendid fun while staying true to the ’60s anime series?
Skip it: The races, while dazzling, lack excitement and clarity — Did Speed win? We could barely tell.
Bottom line: The movie’s stuck between a kiddie cartoon and live action. And the actors — save Goodman and Allam — appear equally confused.
