Movie Review: Flash Of Genius

Turn back the pages of time until when the car was king. Back in the 60s is when the American auto industry was really taking off. Sometimes, however, the best ideas come from the unwashed public and not necessarily the big business brains. Such was the case of one Bob Kearns. Engineering was in this man’s blood and the Michigan resident took pride in his teaching position along with a wife, five children and a new born baby.
One day on a routine drive Dr. Kearns noticed a flaw in his wipers. Upset and annoyed at the medieval way the blades hit the glass some heartfelt hours in the garage saw this neophyte come up with a better way. Drivers today can thank Dr. Kearns for inventing the intermittent windshield wiper. With dollar signs in his head, an eager family to provide for, and a boyhood chum our good man decides to take his “invention” to the Ford Motor Company.
Despite having a patent on it and the sincerest of intentions Kearns gets his idea “hijacked” by the brass at Ford. Upset and not willing to give in what follows is a multi-year legal battle for Kearns to regain his invention and take the corporation down. Huge obstacles stand in this man’s way but he’s a fighter who just won’t quit.
Films based on true stories can be hit or miss affairs. Director Marc Abraham makes a nice debut and pays honest homage to the 60s with a very good atmosphere of a time when life was a lot simpler. Busy and trustworthy Greg Kinnear (The Matador) puts on a brave face as the idealist professor doing what he can to preserve his pride, maintain a family and get his just rewards.