Speedy Recovery

But, when all is said is done, it's simply Wacky Races meets Mario Kart on a huge budget. And LSD. With a chimpanzee.

It is a grower, though. After an unconvincing first half (featuring some of the most oddly inserted flashbacks in the history of storytelling), I quite enjoyed the second hour's rally of somersaulting vehicles, in-car gadgetry and slapstick skirmishes.

During the centre-piece 5000km Rally and the climactic Grand Prix, I found myself rooting for Speed in the final stretches – within the film's confines of no surprises at any point whatsoever.

That could be the nail in the ultra-colourful coffin of Speed Racer. Despite an impressive surface sheen, this is a movie where genuine danger never lurks within its high speed, undulating courses.

That's kind of messed up in a racing film.