IF YOU can imagine a cross between Scalextric, Wacky Races and a computer game, you might get some idea of what Speed Racer looks like.

May 9 2008 by Phil Key, Liverpool Daily Post

It is a totally off-the-wall, visual extravagance directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, the team which gave us the Matrix trilogy.

To be honest, the fast editing, primary colours, comic book styled visuals and the story itself left me confused to start with.

It is one of those films which leaves the starting gate at 100mph and rarely lets up, so, in a few minutes your head is reeling.

Based on a 1960s Japanese television series, it is the story of the Racer family and their fight to win various car races in which vehicles slide around a track, sometimes explode, do somersaults and often take to the air.

This is, of course, a fantasy and you have to accept that or lose a lot of the fun.

My own head finally got round the idea and I did enjoy the races – even though I did not always know what was happening – and some of the sly humour.

There are villains, including a corrupt team boss, a cutesy American Racer family – with slimmed-down John Goodman and a strangely young-looking Susan Sarandon as Mom and Pops – Christina Ricci, right, and some square-jawed heroes and even local actress, Halewood’s Lauren Blake.

At 135 mins, it’s a trifle overlong, but the kids will love it and “moms and pops” might do too. I was not surprised to learn that toy manufacturers are already involved.