The World's Fastest Indian Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)January 28th, 2006
THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2006 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *** 1/2
In the true story THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN, Burt Munro and his old motorcycle are both falling apart, which isn't surprising given their ages. Burt is in his mid-sixties and his bike is well over forty years old. Burt uses every jury-rigged device he can think of from brandy corks to fence hardware to hold his aged racing bike together while he relies on nitro pills to keep his failing heart pumping. In a performance that is as genuine and sweet as it is schmaltz-free, Anthony Hopkins plays this lovable eccentric.
When we first meet the irresistible and irrepressible Burt, he is a busy tinkerer in his garage in the southernmost city of New Zealand. He has the time to forge his own pistons -- hundreds of them -- but never enough time to mow the grass around the workshop/shack that he lives in. The neighbors love him but are a little miffed at his slovenly habits. He, however, couldn't care less. The little lad next door, played by a cute-as-button redhead named Aaron Murphy, worships Burt with all of the adoration a little boy can muster. Structured as a long road trip, the movie has many other characters who come to love Burt as well. And, you will too. It would be impossible not to. Although the movie is long and sometimes rambling, this episodic tale has a delight in store for moviegoers around every bend in the road.
Even if he appears in danger of dying, Burt struggles mightily to get the two thousand dollars it will take to fulfill his lifelong dream. He wants to take his beloved bucket of bolts, a 1920 Indian motorcycle and enter it in the annual land speed event on the Bonneville salt flats in Utah. In the mid-1960s, he works his way as a cook on a cargo ship as a way to afford the voyage. Once in the U.S., Burt winds his way through a whole host of Americana from Burma Shave signs to Hollywood hookers. He and his Indian bike are even befriended by a human Indian who offers some folk medicine to treat another of Burt's many ailments, a bad prostate.
Once in Bonneville, Burt's big dream looks certain to be cut short by a complete lack of safety equipment on his bike. No parachute, no brakes and no fire extinguisher are among the many reasons why he is initially refused entry to the famous course. But, not only does he end up competing at 200+ mph, he and his bike set a land speed record for motorcycles under 1,000 c.c. that stands to this day.
If you are searching for an old-fashioned film with a big but honest heart, you should set your land speed record to see this crowd-pleaser of a production when it comes to your town -- before it gets quickly replaced with the usual drivel of unbelievable action flicks and cheesy comedies that clutter up most multiplexes.
THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN runs 2:07. It is rated PG-13 for "brief language, drug use and a sexual reference" and would be acceptable for kids around 8 and up.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, February 3, 2006. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
