If you look at it strictly by the plot, there's little special about "Turbo." It's a relatively standard believe-in-yourself animated sports tale featuring talking animals that contains relatively few surprises in pacing, plotting or outcome.
But it has a lot of spunk, enough imagination to shine and energy to burn.
Theo (voice of Ryan Reynolds) is a common garden snail in Van Nuys, California, who loves IndyCar and dreams of racing at the Indianapolis 500. His brethren, led by his brother Chet (Paul Giamatti), think he's crazy and wish he'd focus on his work, which, for garden snails, begins and ends with harvesting tomatoes.
But Theo, undaunted and ireepressible, refuses to let his dream die and, through a freak accident, gains the power to move fast. Like VERY fast. Like 200+ mph fast.
Through a rather contrived series of misadventures, Theo (who prefers the moniker "Turbo") and Chet find themselves in the possession of snail-racing taco salesmen (who somehow manage to dance on the line between offensive caricatures and endearing characters) who discover Turbo's speed and take him to Indianapolis.
So a setup of this type, featuring a decided underdog, racial stereotypes, wacky sidekicks and your typical climactic sporting event? BORING. Right?
Not really. Director David Soren infuses Turbo with a great spirit. Colors are bold and vivid, and Turbo's electric blue lights and "slime trail" burst off the screen. The race manages to be thrilling even as it is utterly predictable, and the characters, token as they may be, are engaging.
Great pains are taken to accurately depict the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a place I've been a few times. From Turbo's first entrance to the hallowed track (under the track into the infield, natch) to the race itself, there's a feeling that Turbo is on a real animated version of the IMS.
Slightly more impressive to me was the care taken to depict Indianapolis' skyline. Many films may be tempted to depict Indiana as a place with cornfields and basketball hoops with a large race track in the middle. Here we see Indy, albeit briefly, as a metropolis of some size.
Sure, "Turbo" is mainly aimed at younger audiences, meaning the kids will love it, but the more seasoned moviegoing adults will know he story inside and out. But just because it's familiar doesn't mean it's not a satisfying ride.