RACE THE SUN
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1996 Michael John Legeros
(TriStar)
Directed by Charles T. Kanganis
Written by Barry Morrow
Cast Halle Berry, James Belushi, Casey Affleck, Eliza Dushku,
Kevin Tighe, Anthony Ruivivar, Steve Zahn, Dion Basco,
J. Moki Cho, Nadja Pionilla, Adriane Napualani Uganiza,
Sara Tanaka, Bill Hunter
MPAA Rating "PG"
Running Time 105 minutes
Reviewed at General Cinemas at Pleasant Valley, Raleigh, NC
(19MAR96)
==
If the idea of hearing "Rocks You Like Hurricane" played during a racing scene doesn't gag you, then this is probably the film to see. Halle Berry (who gets top billing!) and James Belushi star in this dopey, feel-good family drama about a group of underprivileged Hawaiian high-schoolers who design, build, and race a solar-powered car. First, in competition in Kona, and, then, as part of the 2000-mile, six-day World Solar Challenge in Australia.
Inspired by the true story, RACE IS SUN is amiable enough. Adults may fidget, but their kids won't mind the undercooked characters or the sparse scientific detail. (With seemingly no background, the class builds a solar car. Just like that!) The scenery is quite nice, and, as honest happy endings go, any non-violent film that causes an audience of kids to erupt into cheers is probably worth the stock it's printed on. Now, if only someone could explain the odd resemblance, of late, between James Belushi and Steven Seagal...
Grade: C
--
Mike Legeros - Raleigh, NC
legeros@nando.net (h) - legeros@unx.sas.com (w)
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