http://braidedthreads.blogspot.com/2008/09/focus-on-racing-family.html...The draw to this film will probably be the effects-saturated racing, but by the time the final race comes along, you might find yourself more interested in watching the dynamics between the father, played by John Goodman, the mother, played by Susan Sarandon, and their two sons. The back-story doesn't matter nearly as much as it deserves to. It involves a "boy" first-named "Speed," last-named "Racer" (played by Emile Hirsch) and his race-car obsessed family who lost an older son to a racing accident in the years before the action that takes place in the film. I must say, this movie celebrates Family connections, Family relationships, and Family unity like a curb-side uber-1950s-style Swiss Family Robinson. Between the racing scenes there is a whole lot of family interaction: laughter, arguments, tension, exasperation, and forgiveness.