![]() ![]() Despite being meant to be a spectacle of a film, perhaps the races are too much on the big screen, which might explain why the film gained a cult following from the DVD releases. It's understandable that a lot of critics called the racing visuals "disorientating" or "overpowering," since everything about the races is cranked up to 11. Plus, there's a ridiculously outfitted team of viking racers. The costumes are just as beautiful and give the characters distinct and anime-accurate looks. Speed and his family wear their signature clothes at some point and sport some great original looks throughout the rest of the film. The Mach 5 looks like it drove right out of the anime and the other cars in the film are unique and full of flair. ![]() The characters stand out from the backgrounds, they look unnatural and fake, which is what works so well it's supposed to be unreal and cartoony. The world of the movie - with its candy-coated cities, massive racing stadiums and cartoonish corporate factories - is just so unrealistic, and that's what is great about it. The design work on "Speed Racer" evokes the zaniness of the anime, amps it up and gives it just the right dose of reality all present in the costume, car and world design. ![]() Most critics address the visuals as the film's strongest element, and they're completely right. So much of "Speed Racer's" charm, beauty and excellence comes from the design work of the film. In the original anime, Trixie was hard-headed and strong-willed, and the film adapts her perfectly into a fearless feminist badass. She also utters the phrase "cool beans" whenever she sees something awesome, which is just plain delightful. Trixie even steps in for Taejo Togokahn in the Casa Cristo Race, holding her own on the track and looking cool in her heavy black eyeliner. She not only supports Speed from the air in her wonderfully pink helicopter, she also tends to get her way when it comes to her and Speed's relationship. She and Speed become fast friends and she is quickly considered family by the rest of the Racers. In the present, Trixie hasn't lost her strength and defiance. Even in flashbacks to Speed's grade school days, Trixie is strong and defiant, protecting Speed from getting made fun of by a group of snobby blonde girls while admiring his differences. She's smart, sassy, she fights for what she wants and she's a genuinely fun character. Speaking of roles, Trixie is one of the coolest characters in "Speed Racer." She is Speed's childhood sweetheart and present day girlfriend. Like Hirsch, Goodman looks exactly like the his anime counterpart, Pops a jolly, irritable, stern, loving and hard-working father. We dare you to find a John Goodman role that isn't at least one of those. And last but not least, John Goodman plays a role that seems tailor-made just for him. Roger Allam is wonderfully frightening as the two-faced corporate villain we love to hate. Susan Sarandon takes her maternal role with stride, a perfect Mom Racer. It shows, too, as Hirsch plays a perfectly humble, sincere and earnest Speed, finding just the right mix of cheesy and inspiring. How these high-profile actors were cast in an anime adaptation is mind-boggling, but it sure worked out well, the cast put all of their heart into these roles.Įmile Hirsch not only looks exactly like Speed Racer, he prepared for the role by watching every episode of the anime and meeting with professional racers. There's Emile Hirsch as Speed, Susan Sarandon as Mom Racer, John freaking Goodman as Pops Racer and Roger Allam as villain Arnold Royalton. If there's truly one thing to love about "Speed Racer," it's the cast. ![]()
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