I’m not going to pretend to be a movie reviewer from some first rate national column (although I think this site does pretty well). Instead, I’m going to tell you how I feel about this movie as if I’m sitting at home in my loungewear while entertaining my best girlfriends for the evening. In other words, let’s get real.
When most of us are seeking a movie, we’re (1) merely looking for entertainment; (2) bored at home, so we’re looking for entertainment; (3) have a little cash to burn, so we feel we may as well find entertainment; or (4) are on date and are trying to impress by our choice of entertainment.
Be that as it may Flash of Genius fits any one of those scenarios. While you won’t hear bombastic explosions, won’t see a 17-car pile-up, you will likely not experience sexual tension – there’s definitely a story worth pursuing here.
Kinnear’s “every man” reminds even me (an African American female) of that pitiful uncle whose life could have – and should have – turned out quite different had it not been for Bohemian conglomerate called Ford Motor Company.
Kinnear plays real-life engineer, Bob Kearns, a family man with a somewhat quirky style. His ‘flash of genius’ – a technical term coined by the federal government in the 1940’s to pinpoint an actual moment when an inventor initial thinks of an idea – was sparked on a rainy day during a ride home from church with his family, which led to his invention of the intermittent wiper device (which we all benefit from today).
But this is no fairytale story – and certainly no fairytale ending. SPOILER ALERT: Do NOT read further if you don’t want to know the ending of the film! While some could argue that Kearns made out awfully well by story’s end (the court awarded him $10 million against Ford Motor Co.), the real sad story is that he spent 20 years fighting the corporation, a fight which caused him to lose both his mind and his family in the process.
Still, Flash of Genius is a worthwhile movie, and a delightful vehicle for Kinnear. Lauren Graham is remarkable as Phyllis Kearns, the steadfast and devoted wife, and Dermot Mulroney is charming as Kearns’ friend and business associate, Gil Privick. And Alan Alda, who portrays Gregory Lawson, Kearns’ attorney, is always an added pleasure.
To sum it up: for the moviegoer looking for hope, for the underdog facing an insurmountable challenge, or to just enjoy a story about a simple everyday, hardworking man, Flash of Genius is sure to entertain. And when you get down to it, isn’t that why we go to the movies?
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