Look, Speed Racer is a LOT. The Wachowskis made a live-action cartoon that feels like someone spiked your Skittles with Red Bull and forced you to watch it on 2x speed. Critics absolutely savaged it (42% on Rotten Tomatoes), and honestly, they weren't entirely wrong.

That said—there's something admirably sincere here. It's a family movie that genuinely believes in its wholesome message about integrity, family, and standing up to corruption. No irony, no winking at the camera. Just pure, earnest racing action with a candy-colored aesthetic that either works for you or gives you a headache.

The problem? It's 135 minutes of sensory overload with 2008 CGI that hasn't aged gracefully. Most kids will tap out before the halfway point. The ones who stick with it might love the bonkers racing sequences, or they might just be confused by the convoluted plot about corporate espionage in the racing world.

It's currently on Kanopy, so if you've got library access, it's free to try. Just know what you're getting into: this is a cult movie with a specific appeal, not a crowd-pleaser. If your kid loved the old Speed Racer cartoons or has a high tolerance for visual chaos, give it a shot. Everyone else? Maybe just watch Cars instead.