Review: 'Speed Racer' live action wreck is lesson in how not to adapt Japanese animae

Speed Racer   PG       

            The Wachowski brothers turn a kitchsy 60s Japanese cartoon about a boy and his car into a bizarre cartoonish live action mess in Speed Racer. Deviating from the show while trying to condense what they must have Googled on the net about it, they try to make the best of a much too complicated story (the cartoon) with several twists, in 2 hours. Unfortunately, they're not quite up to speed. The acting is far, and Goodman seems kind of embarrassed to be there, but Ricci as the girl seems to be more confused than delighted at Matt Fox's, or Speed's antics, as the boy. No, the boy is old enough to drive in this one. No, the monkey only comes out once or twice, and not white in the race. Yes, it's like watching Hotweels The Series again, from the late 1990s. This thing is hyper and it is best viewed while on high doses of sugar.      
Review by Adam Browne