"Flash Of Genius" Movie Review
by David Rosen
2.5 out of 4 Thumbs
Do you know who Robert Kearns was? No. Well you should. After all, the man represented himself in one of the most famous patent lawsuits of all time when he invented the intermittent windshield wiper, and Ford and Chrysler stole it back in the 1940s. His story is the basis of the new film, "Flash of Genius."
Starring Greg Kinnear as Kearns, this family friendly dramedy is an interesting and refreshing take on the little guy takes on the big guys story, seen so many times before. The big difference here, is that this guy's claim to fame is inventing the intermittent windshield wiper! I've got to admit, with a weird premise like that, I was hoping for a more quirky movie, but this debut from director Mark Abraham (a producer on a number of blockbusters ranging from "Children Of Men" to "Bring It On") certainly has its' heart in the right place and will make for a heartwarming night out with the family.
Family, after all, is the central theme of "Flash of Genius." The invention of the wipers is pretty much glossed over, with the college professor wondering why they can't work like eyelids and in no time he whips up a working model in his basement. Once Ford tricks him into letting them check out a test model and subsequently steals the invention, the only people he can trust are his family, the would be Kearns Corporation (he wants to form his own wiper manufacturing plant with his kids)... I kind of find it hard to believe that Disney had nothing to do with this...
While Kearns' obsession with getting credit for his invention takes the ultimate toll on his marriage, his kids are still ready and willing to help dad with forming a case, a task which ends up taking two decades of his life. The kids believe in their father through the best of times and the worst, proving that when life is rough, at least you can rely on family. It should come as no spoiler here that Kearns' has a happy ending, settling two lawsuits with the help of his kids to the tune of $30 million and proper recognition for his life's work.
It's a nice story, and an enjoyable family film. Some of the performances are a little too Lifetime-movie, and some of the side plots a little laughable, an example being when his wife ends up going to the hospital for a stress-induced case of psoriasis... Can someone say drama? Another flaw is that Kearns' simply isn't that likable, as one of the characters actually points out at one point in the film.
But if you're looking to take the family to a sweet, inspiring movie, "Flash of Genius," is a sufficiently entertaining choice, and an interesting story that deserves to be told and heard.