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Speed Racer

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Action-packed kids' film fun, with a few sputters.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Some deception, violence, and betrayal -- but since this is a classic good-versus-evil story, the bad guys get their comeuppance in the end. Parents and children are portrayed as having a fairly healthy, supportive relationship.
  • Violence & scariness:

    Plenty of fight scenes that mix kung-fu with regular brawling and gunplay. A gun is trained up a man's nose. Although there's not that much blood, there's lots of bone-crunching, head-banging, and the like (and the sound effects can be gruesome). Mob-like criminals threaten to throw one racer into a vat of piranhas after they beat him pretty brutally; later, a man's finger is eaten by the same fish (the tone of this scene could be scary for young kids). Car crashes aplenty, though no one is hurt badly.
  • Sexy stuff:

    A couple kisses in the end. There are also some mild sexual innuendoes and some menacing suggestive comments about a young woman from a villain.
  • Language:

    Mostly tame ("holy moly," "hubba hubba"), aside from a few uses of "ass," a "damn," and a bleeped-out "s--t." Brief rude finger gesture.
  • Consumerism:

    Some logos for Royalton Motors, cars, and cigars, but nothing excessive.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    One character smokes, and another is given a box of cigars.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Speed Racer

Parents need to know that this fast-paced, visually kinetic racing movie -- which is the first family-targeted movie from Matrix creators Larry and Andy Wachowski -- seems tailor made for kids under 12 who've been raised on video games and anime adventures. The central family sticks together, which is nice to see, and there's hardly any swearing or sexual content. But some of the fairly frequent fight scenes are quite vicious, with tons of bone-crunching noises and other sounds (though there's not that much in the way of blood). One beating fairly early in the story is somewhat brutal (and includes the threat of a hand getting eaten by piranhas) and could upset young children. The basic good-versus-evil story will entertain kids, but it may leave older teens and adults -- especially those who love the original '60s animated series -- indifferent.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about whether this movie feels more like a live-action film or a cartoon. Why? What do you think the filmmakers wanted watching it to feel like? If family members have seen the Matrix movies, you can talk about what they have in common with this film, if anything. Families can also discuss how the movie portrays Speed's family. Do his parents seem supportive of his dreams? How has his older brother influenced his choices? How does the family in this movie compare to families in other movies?

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Our Members Say

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See all 66 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    "Makes #4 on my top 10 movies of all time..."

    It had more swearing then a PG rated film should. But it was filled with great moments and more color then you can imagine. It was cute and surprisingly deep. I actually cried at the end. But it still had a happy ending. In a lot of ways, its great for kids. If you can, watch it with them.

  2. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    not a great movie

    not a great movie.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

  4. I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    This movie must have been great on the big screen :)

    Speed Racer is a movie with a lot of excellent visual effects. Even though someone swears once and a while and Speed and Trixie kiss, Speed Racer is still a bright movie that a lot of people will enjoy.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    I liked it

    by bobsax's daughter I think it was good for boys or tomboys, I mean not a girly movie. My dad almost didn't let me watch it because of the bad finger gesture, I didn't even see it.

  6. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    bad movie

    this movie is bad. when there is a cool action racing scene, there is to many lighting in the movie to see it. plus sprittle does the finger.

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 11 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    not a very good movie

  8. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Not an Under 10 movie

    We went to see Speed Racer because I had loved the OLD cartoons & my boys love the New Generation Cartoon. Well were we surprised and not in a good way. My youngest, who is 9 was VERY upset by the whole fight scene with the piranha tank. It was SO bad in fact that he asked my husband to take him out of the movie. (They did not return until the credits ran) My oldest who is 101/2 watched it and was less upset by the violence,(but was clearly shocked by some of the heavier fight scenes, but more the fact that the movie wasn't really like the cartoons he was enjoying. Sadly, ever since they saw the MOVIE neither has taken an interest in the cartoons anymore. Talk about how a child view of something can be changed SO quickly?

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Rhode Island
    I rate this title off for age 8 and give it 1.0

    Are you kidding me???

    I took my 8 yr old daughter and 10 yr old son and walked out after the first 15 minutes of this lame movie. I also got my money back after complaining to the manager. I am not an overprotective mom, but raised my kids for the first part of their lives in Europe. Upon returning to the states I was appalled by the amount of violence that is allowed on TV and in movies and adverts. The was so ridiculously violent for no apparent reason, was the original this violent??? I don't think so!!! To my amazement, the other people in the theater stayed and watched this crap! Even after hearing the kids behind us complain. As parents, we need to really take charge of what we want for our kids. To allow society dictate that for us by accepting the garbage out there is not good enough!!! Shame on all who took part in making this movie...and making money off of it at all costs! ...and we wonder why there are school shootings in the US?

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0

    chim-chim

    The movie had brief scenes of violence.It is funny!Some cursing,including sticking the middle finger , A word ,and GUNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is mostly about racing.It has unrelistic wepons in the cars.

  12. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0

    chim-chim

    The movie had brief scenes of violence.It is funny!Some cursing,including sticking the middle finger , A word ,and GUNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is mostly about racing.It has unrelistic wepons in the cars.

  13. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    r

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 6
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 4.0

    racer rex

    it was cool! i recommend it for kids, but not for adults because it has some inappropriate stuff. if you say racer x fast, then you'll notice that when you hear it, it's like racer rex.

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    What started it all

    I never really heard of Speed Racer until my mother took my friend and I to the movies to go see it. We weren't to happy, but it was the only thing we could watch. After the movie, we were jumping up and down to the music! It was such a thrill to see the races, and it's very funny too! I'm a big fan of the original series now (my aunt got me the dvds) so it's very understanding to what was going on. Speed fans should see it (what are you waiting for??). I don't think this is so appropriate for young children even though my little cousins liked it. I'm not lying, it can cause a seizure to your little one, but my heart was pumping from all the exicitment. And some parts might be boring, so your kids might doze out. Obviously not boring for older kids.

  16. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    Worst from ages 8-800

    The worst movie ever made.

  17. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 2.0

    I am upset as to why there needs to be cussing through language and hand gesters

    I am appalled at how they think there needs to be crude language in a movie made for kids!!! Every kid is wanting to see this movie and we cant let them watch it with out me right there with the clicker ready to mute or fast forward. The movie would have been just as successful without the little boy in the movie using his middle finger towards the bad guys as they zoom by. It wasn't necessary! So disappointing.

  18. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    awesome

    speed racer was one of the best movies ever there was humor and tons of action i loved it.

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Go Speed Racer Go!

    Ok, I'll admit, this film probably wasn't the best idea the Wachowski Brothers ever came up with. It would seem at first glance to be a total flop, a sort of Hot wheels meets The Matrix if you will. But my God was it a good crack! If there is 1 kid's action movie to see this summer its Prince Caspian, and this! It was a bit long and the style of driving isn't really technically possible, but hey! A guy can dream can't he! The actors chosen for this film is nothing less than spot on! It has to be said that Speed Racer is an absolute RIOT!

  20. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 2.0

    Should of had a PG-13 rating!

    I took my kids to see this movie and was upset with the swearing! In the movie a the 10 year old, flipped off an adult! When my 11 yr. old looked at me as said, "do you think they needed to put that in the movie?", I knew he had more sense the people who wrote the script!

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