Flash of Genius

Based on the true story of Robert Kearns (played by Greg Kinnear) who sued Detroit car companies for infringing upon his patents for the intermittent windshield wiper. While it sounds pretty dull, and it does drift into typical courtroom drama, the film has a surprising amount to offer. This is thanks in large part to a good performance from Kinnear, who isn’t going for laughs. While some “one man against the world” stereotypes exist here, the film is a nice effort focusing on the loyalty of children and the importance of inventiveness. Kearns fought Big Auto for many years and died recently of Alzheimer’s. He scored a lot of victories for the little man, and this movie is a likable testament to that fact. Lauren Graham is also enjoyable as Kearns’ frustrated wife. Alan Alda makes a sinister appearance as a smiling lawyer with a relatively short fuse.