Turbo is a 2013 American computer-animated sports comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It is based on an original idea by David Soren, who also directed the film in his feature debut. Set in Los Angeles, the film features an ordinary garden snail named Turbo whose dream of becoming the world's fastest snail comes true. The film was released on July 17, 2013. The film stars the voices of Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Peña, Snoop Dogg, Maya Rudolph, Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Rodriguez and Bill Hader. It is DreamWorks Animation's 27th feature film.
The film was met with generally positive reviews. Despite earning $282.5 million on a $127 million budget, the studio had to take a total of $15.6 million write-down on behalf of the film. It is considered to be a box office bomb. A television series based on the film, titled Turbo Fast, with only Ken Jeong and Michael Patrick Bell reprising their roles, was put into production one year before the film's release, and it first aired on Netflix on Christmas Eve, 2013.
Plot[]
In a suburban San Fernando Valley tomato garden of Van Nuys in Los Angeles, Theo, self-named "Turbo", is a garden snail who dreams of being a racer like his hero, five-time Indy 500 champion Guy Gagné. However, his obsession with racing makes him an outcast in the slow and cautious snail community, and a constant embarrassment to his older brother, Chet. One day, after nearly getting killed by a lawnmower in an attempt to retrieve a fallen tomato, Theo wanders onto a freeway to admire the traffic and wishes upon a star to be fast, although it's an airplane. Suddenly, he is sucked into the supercharger of a Chevrolet Camaro, fusing his body with nitrous oxide. Upon waking up the next day, he possesses superspeed and other characteristics of a real car, but his first time using his newfound powers ends with him accidentally crashing a boy's tricycle into his own garden crew’s tomato garden, resulting in him and Chet getting fired.
While scolding Theo for his recklessness, Chet is snatched by a crow, but Theo rescues him near a rundown strip mall called "Starlight Plaza". Both are then captured by Tito Lopez, a taco truck driver who works at the Plaza and are brought to a snail race held by him and his co-workers. Theo wins the race in a matter of seconds, astounding both the humans and snails alike, earning the respect of the snails, led by Whiplash, and firmly establishing the name "Turbo" as his own. Chet, however, is unhappy with his brother's new abilities and wants him to return to normal. Tito wants to revive Starlight Plaza, with Turbo as a main attraction, but Chet and coworker Angelo angrily dismiss him. Turbo convinces Tito to enter him in the Indy 500 as a competitor, and after the snails divert and strand a tour bus to see Turbo's superspeed, bringing impressive business, Tito's co-workers agree to put up the entrance fee and accompany them to Indianapolis.
Reluctant at first, Tito allows Turbo to show off his speed after a chance meeting with Gagné, qualifying for the race by achieving a speed of 226 mph, becoming a sensation on social media, and forcing the CEO of IndyCar to reluctantly let Turbo compete. The night before the race, Turbo sneaks out to meet Gagné, who reveals his true colors by demoralizing him, showing that all he cares about is winning, and warning him to back out of the race. The next day at the race, Chet is taken by a young boy and traps him in a glass to see the race, during which the more experienced competitors leave Turbo in last place. At a pit stop, Whiplash and his crew give Turbo a pep talk, advising him to stop racing like a car. Turbo uses his small size to his advantage and rapidly gains ground, but Gagné resorts to cheating and knocks him against the wall, damaging his shell and greatly weakening his superspeed.
However, Turbo refuses to give up, and eventually takes the lead from Gagné. On the final lap, Gagné drives over debris and overtakes him on the last turn, only to cause a crash involving most of the competitors, including Turbo, who wakes to find the race at a standstill but also his shell punctured and his superspeed gone, causing him to give up and hide in his shell. Surprised at seeing his brother losing hope, Chet, with a change of heart, escapes from the glass and meets with Whiplash's crew, and they encourage Turbo to continue. Inspired by his brother's sudden support, Turbo resumes the race. Gagné desperately pursues him by dragging his wrecked car and attempts to kill Turbo by stepping on him, but Turbo narrowly wins the race by tucking and rolling with his shell.
Starlight Plaza thrives from Turbo's fame, and all the businesses become spectacular successes and hold elaborate snail races. Whiplash's crew is given special propulsion aids for their shells, while Chet is the track referee and paramedic, and the garden snails have also received special shells of their own. Turbo discovers that his shell has healed, and his superspeed has returned, now ready to race once again.
Voice cast[]
- Ryan Reynolds as Turbo, a garden snail who dreams of becoming a racer and the next Indianapolis 500 champion and obtains superspeed during a car race.
- Paul Giamatti as Chet, Turbo's overprotective older brother and Burn's boyfriend.
- Michael Peña as Tito Lopez, a "Dos Bros" taco truck driver who finds and befriends Turbo.
- Samuel L. Jackson as Whiplash, the leader of the Starlight Plaza Snail crew.
- Luis Guzmán as Angelo Lopez, Tito's brother and a "Dos Bros" taco truck driver.
- Bill Hader as Guy Gagné, a French-Canadian Indy 500 champion.
- Snoop Dogg as Smoove Move, a flexible snail.
- Maya Rudolph as Burn, a red snail.
- Ben Schwartz as Skidmark, Whiplash's "feisty #2".
- Richard Jenkins as Bobby, a shopkeeper at a hobby store in Starlight Plaza who makes custom snail shells.
- Ken Jeong as Kim-Ly, an elderly manicurist at Starlight Plaza.
- Michelle Rodriguez as Paz, a car mechanic at Starlight Plaza.
- Michael Patrick Bell as White Shadow, a white snail.
- Kurtwood Smith as Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO
- Dario Franchitti as Scottish Anchor, Male Tourist
- Will Power as Australian Anchor. Power’s Verizon car also appears in the film
- Mario Andretti as Indianapolis Motor Speedway Traffic Director
- Paul Page and Chris Parnell as Announcers
- Paul Dooley as Carl, Chet and Turbo's boss.
- Chris Miller as Tour Bus Driver
- Lloyd Sherr as Spanish DJ
Danica Patrick also made a silent cameo during the pre-race scene.
Trivia[]
- The second DreamWorks Animation film to be released in July, after Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
Gallery[]
