"Flash of Genius" is an Inventive Romance

Running Time: 2 hrs.

Release Date: October 3rd, 2008 (wide)

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language.

Distributors: Universal Pictures

Directed by: Marc Abraham

JJ Rating: A-

Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) saw that the windshield wiper had only one speed. He created a motor that gave it different speeds. Ford wanted to see it. Kearns showed them. They liked it. He allowed them to test for safety. Then they refused to use it. Then they put it in their cars. Kearns takes them to court. Flash of Genius.

I was pleasantly surprise by Lauren Graham and her concern and disappointment she channeled through her character, the wife of Robert. Greg Kinnear did a great job, as well. But he always tends to do a great job.

I've seen far too many documentaries that point to how big business snuff the little man and their ideas that could further the human race just because they can't profit from it should it be invented. Well this story is no different, except they didn't snuff the guy they outright stole his idea. Then people were fine with going on with life and allowing Ford to take an idea that was not theirs just because they were so huge and intimidating. Good thing Robert Kearns was not going to allow their bullying tactics to force him to shut up.

With every great fight there is great sacrifice. John Adams had a great relationship with his wife who understood his passion for American Independence, but he sacrificed knowing his children as well as he could have to travel to make sure America became America. Well Kearns also sacrificed to fight for the right to his idea. Heartbreaking to see that what family means to one doesn't mean it means to all. I could never abandon someone like they do in the film, but I don't think less because they decided to do as they had done. I just could not do it.

Flash of Genius is a fantastic storyline and masterfully done. What could of been a boring story about someone that got ran over by Ford and their inability to be as smart as one man turned out to be far better because of the way it was told. The storyline spans years and it was paced well because it did not feel as if it took years to tell, seeing how it does clock in at about 2 hours long.

Flash of Genius is a clever title as well as clever film that showed that the little guy can fight the big guy just like the story of David and Goliath. I enjoyed it. It's not one I would own, but I would see it again I were flipping through the channels. It has its own kind of charm to it. This film has an odd sense of romance, as in it shows the romantic connection he had with his inventive idea and how he spent so much time on promoting it as well as demanding it back. Not only was Flash of Genius a drama and a romance of the human kind (to an extent) it was romance of the inventor kind; the kind that gave (via the court) the power to the inventor to keep on keeping on.