With the casting complete and filming underway, get ready for a boatload of “Go, Go, Speed Racer” references while the stories about Speed Racer roll out between now and next May. Fans who grew up on Speed, including yours truly, are hoping to see this whole thing turn into a fun, nostalgic, nonsensical romp. Director/writers The Wachowski Brothers excel at nonsensical (see: Matrix, The), but aren’t so big on the whole fun romp vibe.
But Nordling at AICN has read the Wachowski’s screenplay for Speed Racer and say that it does have a family-friendly cartoon feel. While he claims the script is too long (and if it ends up 2.5 hours, he’s right) he thinks that the script, like Tony the Tiger’s favorite sugary cereal, is great. Full of thrilling (at least on paper) action scenes but, as he notes, the love for the cartoon really shines through here - it's obvious the Wachowskis love Speed Racer and treat it with great respect, taking it seriously and at the same time keeping the inherent camp and goofy comedy of the show.
The script, as expected, gives backstory on the Racer family and deals with the relationship between Speed and his older brother Rex and the mysterious Racer X. There is also an overarching villain with the cross-country road racing that Speed participates in being run by big bad corporations with big bad corporate greed at its core. So, if one guy’s opinion is to be believed, there is good news for fans of the Mach 5, it’s driver, crew, and assorted hangers on. All that and a monkey, too.
