Turbo 2013

Turbo is a 2013 Hollywood animation film released on Jul 19, 2013. The film is directed by David Soren, produced by Lisa Stewart under banner named DreamWorks Animation.

Whoever imagined a snail participating in a car race? And whoever thought that this could be a premise for an enjoyable movie?

Well, director David Soren did and he decided that this simple idea could be spun into a 96-minute long animated movie. Well, guess what? This is one idea that is in the ‘Eureka’ league, because not only does it work, but it also keeps you entertained enough to root for Theo, the snail who dares to dream.

Theo (Ryan Reynolds) is a feisty mollusk who lives with his brother Chet (Paul Giamatti) and an extended tribe of snails in the shade and shadow of a suburban garden. His clan is an organized workforce who keeps processing tomatoes, while also steering clear of the Big Wheel Boy – a bully who enjoys crushing the helpless snails. Other tests-of-fate include some rowdy crows that prey on the snails and the lawn mower.

Though their life is tough, Theo and Chet are grass-smart and manage to survive these challenges. But Theo craves for more excitement in life and night after night he steals a peek at classic Indy car races playing on the old TV in the house owner’s garage. His idol is Guy Gagne (Bill Hader), a suave French-Canadian driver who has the world eating out of his hands.

But Theo is mocked by all. Angry and hurt, he wanders away and lands up at Los Angeles River basin, where car chases are held. Mesmerized, Theo inches forward for a closer look and ends up in an adventure that transforms his life.

The little snail is sucked into the hood of a pimped-up modified street racing car, where he trundles down the innards of the vehicle and is belched out bathed in nitrous oxide and what not. Except that instead of a cowering mollusk landing on the sidewalk after this freakish accident, Theo emerges as Turbo – he who is literally turbo-charged and roaring to vroom. He can travel as fast as any Indy car and this fuels his desire to participate in the race.

Except that he’s a snail with a dream to participate in a human race. And it’s a commercial world he lives in and the only way he can be a racer at Indianapolis race is by finding someone to sponsor him. Needless to say, it’s one hell of an uphill task for Theo, but after a few false starts, he convinces Tito (Michael Pena), a tacos seller at a downtown strip mall, to become his sponsor. Other tenants of the Starlight mall, like including Smoove (Snoop Dogg), Burn (Maya Rudolph) and Whiplash (Samuel L. Jackson), share Theo’s drive and back him and Theo’s adventure kicks off.

What makes the movie enjoyable is that the characters are easy to believe in and reflect the struggle each one of us has gone through at some point in their life.

There are clichés about the providential stroke of luck, having belief in one’s capability and going several extra miles if you feel you have what it takes to win. But hey, who said clichés don’t work? They do, and admirably in the case of Turbo.

So if happy endings and chasing your dreams with a flourish are your thing, Turbo will ensure you leave the theatre hall with a smile on your face. And with all the nastiness surrounding us these days, any shot at the opportunity to sport a cheerful smile is welcome, ain’t it?

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