"Speed. I am Speed."
Lightning McQueen
If the above quote from the Disney movie Cars means anything to you, then buckle up for a turbocharged ride with Gran Turismo.
Gran Turismo is an action drama movie based on the true life story of Jann Mardenborough, a PlayStation gamer turned real-life car racer. Along with him are Danny Moore, who birthed the idea that simulation racers could compete in the real world, and Jack Salter, a former racer who comes back to the tracks to coach Jann.
The movie stars Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough, Orlando Bloom as Danny Moore, Djimon Hounsou as Jann's father, and David Harbour as Jack Selter. With the exception of Archie Madekwe, the others are well-seasoned actors who bring Gran Turismo to life. Included in their portfolio are movies such as Lord of the Rings, SHAZAM, and Stranger Things. Nevertheless, Archie Madekwe delivers a splendid performance as Jann.
The movie doesn't waste time getting into what it's about: racing. After a bit of screentime dedicated to providing some background on Jann, it's off to the race tracks.
Although I am not the sort to tune in to watch Formula One races, Gran Turismo did a great job of keeping me invested in Jann's success, and watching his character take on race after race left me on a constant adrenaline high throughout. This mostly had to do with the exhilarating and well-choreographed race scenes.
As a result, the 2-hour movie felt shorter than it actually was. All in all, this movie is the best car race game adaptation I have seen in a while.
There is no deep insight into the characters of Gran Turismo. But as I already mentioned, the movie is about racing cars. However, this does not distract from its hopeful themes. It is a movie about success despite challenges. Gran Turismo dares you to dream. And it left me feeling particularly positive.
If you haven't seen Gran Turismo, I'd recommend it to fans of the GT PlayStation game or action-seeking moviegoers. You will also enjoy this movie if you like movies with themes such as family, hope, and overcoming setbacks.
Have you seen Gran Turismo? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
