Amalgamation: the combining or uniting of multiple entities into one thing
Besides being one of hulk's favorite words, it is also something that is a tricky proposition in cinema. We most often think of it in terms of quentin tarantino's work, where his films seem to jump into different genres at will. But they often speak in heavy codified language. They shift in look and feel so we know what we're experiencing. But anytime you play with these things, what you are really playing with is audience expectation, which promptly turns any amalgamation into a high wire act.
Speed racer is an amalgamation.
And it's an amalgamation of so many things that it might seem confusing: it's a racing movie. It's a kids movie. It's an action movie. Beyond mere genre, there's the subject matter itself: it's a movie about corruption. A movie about family dynamics. It's a coming of age story. And beyond mere subject, there's the raucous tonal jumps: silly monkeys, gun violence, date nights, kung fu, schoolyard hijinks, impr