Blockbuster Days: 'Speed Racer'

It's so easy to just go to a matinee. But coming up with a whole day of activities to enjoy that all relate thematically to a specific summer movie? That's hard. But that's where I come in; consider this blog post the first in a series designed to help you plan Blockbuster Days.

I know what you're thinking: "Wow, I can't wait to hear what Jen tells us to do when 'Pineapple Express' comes out." We're not there yet, Franco. We're not there yet. This week, our Blockbuster Day centers on "Speed Racer," a fun, PG-rated flick from the Wachowski Brothers that, at least from a color-palette perspective, makes Willy Wonka's chocolate factory look downright sepia.

If you're amped up to see the movie this weekend, here are some things to do that will heighten the excitement.

Begin the day by stopping at the National Zoo and hanging with the monkeys -- or, as I like to call them, the real-life Chim-Chims -- in the Great Ape and Small Mammal Houses.

Next, take a quick peek at Good Eye, whose often-bright, retro furnishings have a lot in common with the funky tables and tiki-style bar in the movie version of the Racer household.

Then it's off to the badlands of Dulles for some serious driving at Allsports Grand Prix, a place that both Speed and Racer X would undoubtedly love. (Note: The price for an eight-minute drive ain't cheap at nearly $25. But that expense may be worth it to those who want to hit the gas before they settle into their movie seats.)

From there, you're perfectly (pole)positioned to zoom straight to Udvar-Hazy's Imax theater, which just happens to be showing "Speed Racer" on a gigantic screen. What you do with Trixie afterwards? Well, I'll leave that part up to you.

By Jen Chaney |  May 7, 2008; 1:12 PM ET Movies
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