ROTTEN TOMATOES: The RT Review Revue: What Happens in Speed Racer, Stays in Speed Racer

The RT Review Revue: What Happens in Speed Racer, Stays in Speed Racer

Your RT editors weigh in on the weekend in movies.

by Jen Yamato | May 08, 2008

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! The RT Review Revue is here to talk about this week's pair o' flicks: What Happens in Vegas (AKA Cameron vs. Ashton) and Speed Racer (better known as The Wachowskis Blow Minds, Part II). Click here to watch.

We'll start with the movie where a guy pees into a sink. Charmers Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz star in What Happens in Vegas as a mismatched couple who accidentally get married in Sin City and spend 90 minutes trying to trick each other into divorce. Date night, anyone? Nothing says "safe first date" like a movie about strangers getting hitched!

Then again, if you check out What Happens In Romantic Comedyland this weekend you might miss out on Speed Racer, the Wachowski brothers' (...or is it siblings, we ask?) high energy live action-anime mashup based on the classic 'toon about a race car driver named Speed (Emile Hirsch), his girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci), and his racing-obsessed family (Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, scene stealer Paulie Litt, and a chimpanzee). Critics look split on this one -- but it does feature a buffed out, leatherclad Matthew Fox as the mysterious Racer X. To borrow a line from the trailer, "Hubba hubba."

Buckled up this week (at the wheel, on the passenger side, and sitting in the middle of the empty backseat reminiscing on that one time Carrie Underwood touched his arm, respectively) are RT editor in chief Matt Atchity, Senior Editor Jen Yamato, and special guest Dave Chung.

Watch this week's video right here. (You can also download in Quicktime.)

What do you think? Will you be watching What Happens in Vegas, Speed Racer, or queuing up again to see Iron Man??

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Celeb:	Larry Wachowski
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(1-20 of 26 posts) | Reply

CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on May 08 2008 10:17 PM

Great review revue, guys!! Can't wait for Speed Racer and I

hope most people will give this film a chance because i truely believe its

something special. And certainly a memorable reference calling it "like

being on escatsy" Oooooo-kay ;)

now i'm definitely seeing speed racer!!!!!

(Reply to this)

GGear0323 writes:
on May 08 2008 11:21 PM

i have seen everything i need to see in regards to speed racer and never plan on seeing it. the second i saw the scene where they are deadly serious about risky the lives of the whole family to drive neon colored cars/pink colored helicopters(w/ chimps) because "it is the only thing i know how to do, and i have to do something".......that really just kind of pissed me off. even random ninja fights wont get me to see this on top of the fact that i hate how it looks and to often reminds me of a mix between ridge racer and wipeout

(Reply to this)

adiaze writes:
on May 08 2008 11:55 PM

From what I've seen so far, only those who have seen the Speed Racer Anime wayyy back will like it or enjoy it.

Those who havent seen it, and those who dislike anime/cartoon/family shows, will hate this movie.

(Reply to this)

zwriter writes:
on May 09 2008 12:31 AM

In reply to this comment (#1727083)
You should know that the Lana Wachowski rumor was bs:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295909,00.html

Saw speed racer tonight at an advanced screening, and it's incredible. What they manage to do in the composition of each shot and scene demonstrates a mastery of the visual medium. People that don't like it are either old, pompous or have no creativity (critics). If any other filmmaker besides the Bros made this, we would be praising them as the saviors of cinema. Give into the live-action F-Zero visuals and enjoy a very simple family flick. The ice fight is the closest a director has come to live-action anime, which is absolutely the future of film. Simply put, you could pause this film 200,000 times (roughly the amount of frames in it) and find a gorgeous shot each time. The only actors that suck are the chubby kid and the monkey.

Speed Racer will divide the film community into those who want to experience revolutionary film and those who want the same garbage. I'll take creative risks with its flaws any day over regurgitated studio exec conventions and cliches. But is the audience ready to be smarter than Hollywood?

(Reply to this)

zwriter writes:
on May 09 2008 12:34 AM

In reply to this comment (#1727111)
I also never saw the cartoon.

(Reply to this)

smi1ey writes:
on May 09 2008 12:47 AM

First things first... why is Dave still a "special guest"? Where's the love? Is he a temporary intern or something? :P

As far as speed racer goes, I saw the first trailer, and was like, "Wow, this sucks." I saw the second trailer, and was like, "Wow, this looks like Speed, on LCD, coated with skittles... for my EYES. SOLD." So that to say, I'll definitely be checking it out, mainly because unlike most critics, I have an open mind, and appreciate crazy movie styles ("A Scanner Darkly" anyone?)

As far as the show goes... any chance of getting some community feedback? I mean, since you guys are giving your opinions based on trailers, I'm sure a couple folks around here wouldn't mind chiming in! :)

(Reply to this)

smi1ey writes:
on May 09 2008 12:49 AM

Ok I realize my suggestion was completely vague. What I meant was "viewer opinion" section... but with a much more catchy name. Yeah.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on May 09 2008 02:52 AM

Baby Jesus hates speed racer,

we were all going to heaven

than baby Jesus saw speed racer,

no we are all going to hell

(Reply to this)

Ashron writes:
on May 09 2008 06:35 AM

In reply to this comment (#1727156)
Well, I'm glad to know with famine, cyclones, civil unrest, and all the other problems in the world, Baby Jesus still has time to condemn us for a movie :-)

(Reply to this)

NewberL337 writes:
on May 09 2008 08:35 AM

Here's the truth of it.

The classic Speed Racer cartoon was terrible... good terrible. I saw that depending on your humor. In my opinion a HUGE chunk of Speed Racer in general, movie included, is your sense of humor. What made the cartoon so bad? The animation was alright for it's time but nothing amazing, but what it's known for and is parodied all the time is that they would "X" amount of mouth movement for talking, but the voice actors would cram WAY more words in there by talking super faster, and ending abruptly at times. I can only hope that to tease on that they do it in the movie, at least once.

Now I saw all this on the cartoon because well, that's the movies subject material. The movie is based of this absolutely, in every sense of the words, ridiculous cartoon that people love, love to hate, or just hate. Now I won't saw you can't take crappy source material, base a movie on it and then not make the movie good. It's happened. But Speed Racer... I don't know, I think the wiggle room is even less to make it a serious, amazing movie. The most I think they can do, and SHOULD do in my opinion, is run with what Speed Racer is and take it in all it's stupid, wacky *** glory. I am definitely going to see this. Do I have ANY expectations of it being a really good movie, nooo. But I am going in there to get my eyes raped with amazing CG and laugh at the stupid *** humor that *** Speed Racer, and have fun.

(Reply to this)

NewberL337 writes:
on May 09 2008 08:36 AM

every saw = say. I don't know what the hell I was doing lol.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on May 09 2008 10:31 AM

Speed Racer is a wonderment - for people who are open to seeing images that defy physics, environments that can't exist, and lots and lots of shiny, sparkling colorful fun. Colorfun! I think a lot of critics who hated it were holding Speed Racer up against their expectations or what they're used to seeing - who's ever tried to film a villainous monologue with an actor's head doing 360s against CG montage backgrounds? I probably didn't explain that well enough, but Speed Racer is such a treat - and not just for kids. Screw the people who are saying they liked it for being a fun kids' movie.

And as with every other movie that divides people so strongly, go see it yourself and decide which side you're on! I mean, isn't that still better than seeing Ashton Kutcher pee into a sink??

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on May 09 2008 10:34 AM

Interesting idea, sm1ley - how do you suggest getting community interaction?

So far our goal with this video has been to discuss what's interesting about the opening wide releases, and highlight what critics are saying early on. Would you watch a longer video with more sections?

(Reply to this)

mouse_clicker writes:
on May 09 2008 11:27 AM

In reply to this comment (#1727360)
Newber, you're absolutely right. The cartoon was terrible, but it was hilariously terrible. I used to watch it all the time as a kid and laugh my *** off. Granted I haven't seen the movie yet, but every preview I've seen makes it look exactly like the cartoon, spot on in every way possible. It doesn't look like it's making fun of the cartoon but at the same time isn't trying to turn it into something serious. It just tried to reproduce the cartoon as faithfully as possible, and if you liked the cartoon for whatever reasons, then you should like the movie for those same reasons.

-Eric

(Reply to this)

707PG13 writes:
on May 09 2008 11:27 AM

Hey Jen,

you've seen Speed Racer and I read your review on your journal, were you not allowed to go into what you liked about the movie? I like the stuff you talked about and was hoping you'd bring some of them up, but obviously you guys probably can't reveal too much about the movie.

Community feedback, sounds awesome! And looking at the pic up above I guess you can brag that Dave's face has touched your arm.

(Reply to this)

707PG13 writes:
on May 09 2008 11:29 AM

In reply to this comment (#1727508)
I thought watching Amy Poehler pee into a sink (Baby Mama) was funnier. Who's next!!??

(Reply to this)

smi1ey writes:
on May 09 2008 12:14 PM

In reply to this comment (#1727509)
Totally! There are plenty of different online shows out there, and I think the shows that have more viewer/listener interaction tend to stand above the rest. There a few ways of doing it:

1. Setting up an email address to submit comments/questions about the next week's upcoming movies (aka "reviewrevue@rottentomatoes.com"), then choosing a couple out of the group to read "on air" and discuss.

2. Posting a pre-show news post that people can comment on, and then you can guys can pull from that.

3. (most work) An actual "live chat" room where you can get interaction as you're filming... although since it's not a live show, that probably wouldn't work.

Since we all know everyone who visits this site is generally quite opinionated, it would make for some interesting discussion, and i wouldn't think it would extend the show too long. Just a thought! ;)

(Reply to this)

davechung writes:
on May 09 2008 09:24 PM

smi1ey, those are some great ideas! :) I could see us using a couple of those. Haha #3 would be a lot of fun, but I think that's pretty much a webcam of us at work and no one wants to see that (I hope), haha.

(Reply to this)

CaptainSiberia writes:
on May 09 2008 10:36 PM

In reply to this comment (#1727509)
I'd be interested to see you have deeper insights about the films. Because on this video, you didn't even try to scratch the surface. Also, I'd be willing to see you be more skeptical about movies that exude stupid from every pore, like /What Happens in Vegas/. And not to be so happy about the Wachowski Brothers making another movie.

And my impression of the promotional materials for Speed Racer, before the reviews came out, was that the dark and light aspects of the film would clash terribly.

(Reply to this)

smi1ey writes:
on May 10 2008 01:27 AM

In reply to this comment (#1728251)
Well, there was always the "YamatoCam" idea...

*whistles innocently*

In Reply to CaptainSiberia:

So... basically you want them to agree with your opinions on movies lol. I don't know why people hate on the Wachowskis so much! Vegas on the other hand... agreed. ;)

(Reply to this)

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