Tatsuo Yoshida’s classic manga and anime series finally makes its way to the big screen today as Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ Speed Racer drifts into theaters. Featuring a mix of live-action and CG effects animation, the pic could defeat Paramount’s Iron Man to take the box-office checkered flag, or it could blow a tire this weekend. Critical response hasn’t been too kind and the film hasn’t been tracking particularly well.
Speed Racer follows the adventures of young racecar driver Speed (Emile Hirsch) as he strives to drive his famous Mach 5 to victory while tangling with his mysterious arch-rival, Racer X (Matthew Fox). The cast also includes Christina Ricci as Speed’s Girlfriend, Trixie, and John Goodman and Susan Sarandon as Speed’s devoted parents. The extensive visual effects work was completed by ILM, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Digital Domain, CIS Hollywood, Rising Sun Pictures, Evil Eye Pictures, BUF, CafeFX, Pacific Title and Lola Visual Effects.
The flick marks a return to the director’s chair for Larry and Andy Wachowski, who have been focused on producing since finishing out their Matrix trilogy. Their latest effort offers a lot of fast-paced action and digital eye candy for family audiences, and should attract curious fans of the 1960s cartoon series. Receipts could also reflect a new fanbase being grown by the recently-launched Nicktoons animated series Speed Racer: The Next Generation.
The only other film opening in wide release this weekend is 20th Century Fox’s What Happens in Vegas, a screwball comedy starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz. Iron Man still has the highest theater count with $4,111 venues running prints. Word-of-mouth and return visits could keep the superhero flick on top for a second weekend after opening to $200 million worldwide last week.
