Speed Racer (PG)

The Wachowski brothers of Matrix fame go wild with the paint box and SFX in this live action adaptation of the Japanese cartoon.

Emile Hirsch is the boy racer of the title who takes part in 400mph duels with his rivals. Though the special effects are eye-popping, it's the interplay between the Racer family - mom Susan Sarandon, dad John Goodman and the rest - that provides the warmth.

Insanely overlong, but if they can endure the Grand Prix length, any junior Jeremy and Jemima Clarksons in your life will have a blast.

This hyper-kinetic version of a classic Japanese TV series is obviously intended for audiences who find music videos a bit on the slow side.

Behind the camera for the first time since The Matrix trilogy, the brothers Wachowski have come up with the closest thing yet, in terms of action and colour scheme, to a live-action cartoon.

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is the middle son of the Racer family who is determined to win The Crucible – a madcap event that makes Wacky Races look like a model of restraint – in memory of his dead brother Rex.

There is so much going on with corrupt owners, hired goons, deadly death traps and the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) – who may or not be Rex back from the dead – that it is hard to keep track.

The film is relentless, and although the cast includes John Goodman, Christina Ricci and Susan Sarandon they don’t have much to do.

This is an effects extravaganza which at more than two hours long is a little too much to bear.