RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Speed Racer
Speed Racer

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Speed Racer (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
36 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 196

Fresh: 71

Rotten:125

Average Rating: 5/10

Consensus: The Wachowski Brothers have overloaded Speed Racer with headache-inducing special effects, and neglected to develop a coherent storyline.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for sequences of action, some violence and language.

Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:09-05-2008

Synopsis: Based on the 1960s Japanese-manga-derived animated TV series of the same name, SPEED RACER follows the adventures of the title character (Emile Hirsch), a young race car driver who sits behind the... Based on the 1960s Japanese-manga-derived animated TV series of the same name, SPEED RACER follows the adventures of the title character (Emile Hirsch), a young race car driver who sits behind the wheel of the lightning-fast Mach 5 vehicle. Aided by his family, which includes Pops Racer (John Goodman) and Mom Racer (Susan Sarandon), and his devoted doe-eyed girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed racks up victory after victory, but still lives in the shadow of his late older brother, Rex (Scott Porter), who died in a race. When Speed garners the wrath of Royalton Industries, he must team up with the enigmatic Racer X (Matthew Fox) to defeat the ruthless corporation. Written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, the masterminds behind the MATRIX films, SPEED RACER replaces the gritty techno patina of that blockbuster series with a polished, brightly hued virtual reality. Though the eye-popping visuals threaten to eclipse the acting, the fine cast gamely makes the most of their green-screen environment, particularly the likable Hirsch, who won acclaimed for his decidedly different INTO THE WILD role, and LOST's always-noble Fox. Adding to the movie's giddy mood are Paulie Litt and his chimp companion, who provide comic relief as Speed's playful younger brother, Spritle, and Chim Chim, respectively. While definitely a case of style over substance, SPEED RACER is a movie meticulously designed to appeal to families and kids, especially the Spritle-like young ones. [More]

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Christina Ricci

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rain, Richard Roundtree, Roger Allam, Benno Furmann, Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, Nicholas Elia

Director: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski

Director: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski
Screenwriter: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Producer: Joel Silver, Grant Hill, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Composer: Michael Giacchino
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
    Trailer #2
    >
    Sneek Peek
    >
    The Cars
    >
  • Racer X
    >
    Speed Racer
    >
    Three Minutes of Speed
    >
    Video Interview
    >
  • RT Speed Racer Revue
    >
    RT Review Revue - Speed Racer, What Happens in Vegas
    >
    First Seven Minutes
    >
    Speed Racer exclusive featurette
    >
  • Building The Cars
    >
1 - 4 of 13

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Speed Racer

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

The brothers swamp the fragile story and characters with such a deluge of CGI tricks and elaborate action sequences that it proves hard to care about the humans on screen.

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
10/18/08
Mike Goodridge
Screen International

You have to be 12 to like it, and I have to say there is little or nothing here to remind us why we were all quite so excited about The Matrix.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
10/18/08
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Impressively directed, superbly designed and eye-poppingly colourful, this is an enjoyable action-adventure flick, providing you like things that go vroom.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
05/08/08
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

This whizzy and outrageously colourful family action romp is a visually breathtaking hybrid of animation and live action. The story may feel about as gripping as a videogame, but the film is pure eye candy.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
05/08/08
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

You might admire it as a Warholian blur of pop art, gawp and gasp at its Hot Wheels-for-real dynamism, or get a headache.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
05/05/08
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The directors have been outrageously successful in creating one of the most trippy, visually astonishing mainstream movies ever made, and have even thrown in some good-old-fashioned story-telling and morality into this kaleidoscopic brew for good measure.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies UK | comment Comment
05/01/08
Orlando Parfitt
IGN Movies UK

Fellow critics mercilessly denounced this dazzling, visually inventive adaptation; one of the ten best films of 2008

Full Review Source: Orange County and Long Beach Blade | comment 1 Comment
02/27/09
Fr. Chris Carpenter
Orange County and Long Beach Blade

Cut from car to driver to announcer to audience and over and over again, ad nauseam. Such pretty racing scenes, so little to actually see.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
11/14/08
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/18/08
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: NPR.org | comment Comment
10/18/08
Bob Mondello
NPR.org

A flashy, colorful film that packs a ton o’ fun into its fast-paced frame.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
10/18/08
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Twelve-year-old boys should be wowed, but for the rest of us, it will depend on your appetite for eye candy.

Full Review Source: CNN.com | comment Comment
10/18/08
Tom Charity
CNN.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Even the target audience of 10-year-olds might get jimmy legs sitting for a punishing 135 minutes as the Wachowski brothers projectile-vomit their cotton-candy dreams all over the big screen.

Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
10/18/08
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone

You can feel the kids in the audience tapping their feet, waiting for more action. So, let’s just give the kids what they want: fast-paced excitement, wrapped up in a colorful package.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
10/01/08
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com

The arty blockbuster has arrived, and it's as flashy, accessorized and auto-erotic as can be. Which creates a strange sensation indeed, that it's not just the cars that are smoking, but those Wachowski brothers as well, and whatever's in their pipes too.

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
09/22/08
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze

Maybe it's all flash and little substance, but there's no denying the appeal of that flash....

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
09/15/08
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

The Wachowskis blur the definition of "children's film" as much as the original cartoon challenged Western perceptions of "children's television".

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
08/22/08
Shane Burridge
rec.arts.movies.reviews

And here we have a prime example of why studios should not be funding the creations of The Wachowski Brothers. While visually dazzling, the film's paper thin plot and the cheesiness of its actors are a huge disservice.

Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | comment 1 Comment
07/13/08
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy

The appeal of this frenetically-paced fantasy is probably limited to 10-year-olds, gamers and fanboys.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia) | comment 1 Comment
06/13/08
Vicky Roach
Daily Telegraph (Australia)

This is fairly simplistic anti-corporate fare, told in a way that occasionally defies comprehension as well as gravity. Impressionistic is the word.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment 1 Comment
06/13/08
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
all

Latest News for Speed Racer

January 21, 2009: Razzies Name 2008's Worst Movie Nominees
No awards season would be complete without the Golden Raspberry Awards (AKA The Razzies), awarded each year to the very worst movies to hit Hollywood. This year's winners will... More...

October 06, 2008: Filme.Acasa: Un blockbuster de arta a sosoit la linia de final. Este sclipitor, accesoriat si auto-erotic. Speed Racer iti face inima sa pulseze de trei ori mai repede. Opens in new window
More...

September 22, 2008: The arty blockbuster has arrived, and it's as flashy, accessorized and auto-erotic as can be. Which creates a strange sensation indeed, that it's not just the cars that are smoking, but those Wachowski brothers as well, and whatever's in their pipes too. Opens in new window
More...

September 15, 2008: RT on DVD: Speed Racer Zooms to Blu-ray!
Get the pop rocks and Coke ready -- Speed Racer is out this week! We'll tell you what new releases to skip over, when Death Proof and Planet Terror are headed to Blu-ray, and... More...

See More Topics...

Related Forums for Speed Racer

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
—
The Code
23%
23%
Confessions of a Shopa…
39%
39%
Inkheart
80%
80%
Gran Torino
28%
28%
Tyler Perry's Madea Go…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
84%
84%
Two Lovers
04%
04%
Street Fighter: The Le…
27%
27%
12 Rounds
23%
23%
Jonas Brothers - The C…

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Renny Harlin

Renny Harlin

5 Fave Films from the 12 Rounds helmer.

Star Wars

Star Wars

We celebrate 10 years of Episode I.

Drag Me to Hell

Drag Me to Hell

We chat to Sam Raimi and his cast.

Cannes Must-Sees

Cannes Must-Sees

We pick the 10 movies not to miss.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Brandon Routh Talks Superman's Future Source: Moviehole
52
  • Sony's Amy Pascal Explains Moneyball Balk Source: Los Angeles Times
6
  • Three Theaters Getting Harry Potter in IMAX Opening Day Source: Collider.com
18
  • Weekly Ketchup: Adam Sandler joins The Zookeeper, David Fincher joins Facebook
72
  • Zak Penn Talks The Avengers Source: Sci Fi Wire
20
  • Watchmen Director's Cut Headed to Theaters Source: Collider.com
32
  • Lorenzo di Bonaventura Talks G.I. Joe, Beverly Hills Cop 4, More Source: Collider.com
14
  • (Teaser) Trailer Bulletin: The Last Airbender Source: MTV
61
  • Johnny Depp Talks Alice, Pirates 4, Dark Shadows Source: Collider.com
12
  • New Alice in Wonderland Concept Art, Stills Posted Source: USA Today
26
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers 2 Generates Explosive Box Office
168
  • Critics Consensus: Solid Public Enemies Doesn't Quite Bring The Noise
104
  • Five Favorite Films with Fred Durst
86
  • RoboGeisha: 2009's Most Insane Trailer?
73
  • Total Recall: Johnny Depp's Best Movies
70
  • RT on DVD: Street Fighter, Transmorphers 2, and Uwe Boll's Tunnel Rats!
36
  • Academy Invites Tyler Perry, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen to Join Oscar Ranks
28
  • Karl Malden: 1912-2009
17
  • Box Office Guru Preview: Dinosaurs and Gangsters Spark Fireworks
17
  • Edinburgh 2009: RT's 10 Must-See Movies
9
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Speed Racer at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Speed Racer at IGN

Fresh Links

Competitions
Blood: The Last Vampire
Blood: The Last Vampire External Link

Combine live-action and manga to create your own movie short and win big!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.