Normally the news that a big, anticipated movie is rated PG isn't really cause for celebration. But when it comes to the candy-colored cartoon world of Speed Racer, it's hard to imagine it being any different. Collider.com caught up with Speed Racer producer Joel Silver at ShoWest last week, and he confirmed that the movie would be PG-- “They wanted to make a big family, they wanted to make a film for everybody, and they did. It's a PG movie, it always was a PG movie.”
Apparently there had been debate as to whether or not the movie would be rated G, which seems pretty much impossible to me. Just looking at some of the car crashes and flips going on in the new trailer indicates at least some level of scariness for little kids. But the PG rating seems just about perfect-- plenty of drama, lots of action, but never mucking it up with anything too serious or, well, realistic.
The PG rating will also mean a box office bonanza for Warner Bros., since teenagers can bring their little brothers and kids who might normally get stuck watching the latest Dr. Seuss adaptation can see Speed Racer with all the cool, older kids. Honestly, the idea that the movie is “family-friendly” just tickles me. It's silly! It's over-the-top! It's 100% escapism, and really, I don't want them to do it any other way.
