‘Genius’ shows flashes of greatness

“Flash of Genius” is the story of the man who invented the intermittent windshield wiper. And yet, it is thoroughly interesting thought.

Greg Kinnear stars as the socially abrasive inventor and engineer Robert Kearns in this late 1940’s period piece, as the Ford Motor Company makes a deal with him for his intermittent wiper design. After cancelling the deal, Ford steals his design and puts it in their cars anyway. The movie chronicles the lawsuit Kearns pursues over the better part of 20 years.

The subject matter may be dull and technical, buy it’s a good story and well told. Kinnear does a brilliant job as the multi-faceted Kearns, giving us a man we dislike but can still root for.

Like watching a train wreck, the movie captivates it’s audience as we see Kearns sacrifice his career, his family and really his entire life to get the recognition he deserves. It doesn’t have a textbook happy ending, either. In the end, the question put to the audience seems to be, “Was it worth it?”

A simple story on the surface, the film’s strengths lie in the performances. The characters are multi-layered and realistic, unlike the two dimensional characters sometimes seen in these “based in a true story” films.

Lauren Graham plays the long-suffering housewife with too many kids, and does it much better than in her similar role in “Evan Almighty.” Kinnear brings the kind of talent we saw in “Little Miss Sunshine.” And the supporting roles shine equally bright.

Though predictable, and a little unoriginal, “Flash of Genius” still gives a good account of a David vs. Goliath story with some courtroom drama.

Simple, but surprisingly deep, the movie is a satisfying morsel in a movie season lacking heartier fare. With it’s simple visuals and lack of special effects, it isn’t a must-see for theaters, but definitely something to put on your Netflix queue.