adventure comedy directed
by : Andy Wachowiski & Larry Wachowiski featuring
: Emile Hirsch - Christina Ricci - Susan Sarandon - Matthew Fox -
John Goodman running
time : 2 hours 15 minutes
The Matrix masterminds
Andy and Larry Wachowski usher anime icon Tatsuo Yoshida's classic 1960s-era
hit into the new millennium with this family-friendly story of a young
racecar driver who takes on the mysterious Racer X in a custom-made, gadget-loaded
speed machine named the Mach 5. Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is the kind
of driver that every wheelman wishes he could be: a born winner whose unbeatable
combination of aggression, instinct, and fearlessness always finds him
crossing the checkered flag with a comfortable lead. In Speed Racer's mind,
the only driver who could present him with any real challenge is his late
brother -- the legendary Rex Racer. Rex died in a heated cross-country
rally known as The Crucible many years ago, and now his younger sibling
is driven to fulfill the legacy that Rex left behind. To this day, Speed
Racer is fiercely loyal to family. It was Speed Racer's father, Pops Racer
(John Goodman), who designed the unbeatable Mach 5, and even a lucrative
offer from racing giants Royalton Industries isn't enough to get the young
ace to break his family ties.
Upon turning
down Royalton's (Roger Allam) astronomical offer, Speed Racer makes the
shocking discovery that the outcomes of the biggest races are being predetermined
by a handful of powerful moguls who pad their profits by manipulating the
drivers. Realizing that his career would be ruined if word of the fix gets
out, Royalton vows that the Mach 5 will never make it to another finish
line. Now, the only way for Speed Racer to save the family business and
beat Royalton at his own game will be to win the very same race that claimed
his brother's life so many years ago. In order to accomplish that formidable
feat, however, Speed Racer will not only have to rely on his family and
the aid of his longtime girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), but form
a tenuous alliance with his longtime rival -- the mysterious Racer X (Matthew
Fox) -- as well.
