Wick's Review

Summary - Very Good 3.5

Flash of Genius is an involving and interesting, albeit frustrating, biopic of a guy who succeeds at invention, fails at business and craters at life. It’s well recommended for those interested in cars and/or entrepreneurs, and for fans of Greg Kinnear.

Being a successful inventor wasn’t enough for “Winner of the Intermittent Wiper Race” Robert Kearns, who fancied himself a budding automotive mogul. Like most techie entrepreneurs, he assumed business challenges could be solved as neatly as technical ones. When they weren’t, he morphed into Captain Committed, sacrificing his health and marriage in pursuit of an entrepreneurial white whale, hardly allowing himself succor from the tens of millions of dollars he received along the way.

The movie does a good job unspooling this, managing to generate several affecting moments along the way. In particular, early on the movie sweetly celebrates the “aha” process and intellectual flights of fancy common to inventors and creative entrepreneurs. So while Kearns’ unrealistic expectations – and their effect on him and his family – make this story frustrating, those bitten by entrepreneurial ambition should consider it a must see.

Acting - Very Good 3.5

It’s easy to root for Greg Kinnear, making him ideal as put-upon inventor Robert Kearns. Indeed, Kinnear ably conveys the entrepreneur’s characteristic combination of headstrong impulsiveness, pluckiness and interpersonal blindness.

Lauren Graham is sweetly effective as his long suffering wife. Alan Alda proves a standout as one of his frustrated lawyers, while Dermot Mulroney provides a dose of understated charisma as his business friend.

Film - Very Good 3.5

The movie vivifies the final stages of Detroit pluckiness, a time not long ago when it still seemed as if a modern day Henry Ford could personally turn an automotive invention into a mass produced phenomenon. Starting in this 1960s era, the movie grinds through the 70s and 80s as Kearns’ legal fight drags on, and as the insular auto industry he battles begins its inexorable slide from market dominance to abject ineptitude.

Edge - Tame 1.2

Reality - Glib 1.1

Let’s count Kearns’ entrepreneurial mistakes:

1. He chooses the capital intensive route of manufacturing rather than licensing. Instead he could have used the royalties from non-exclusive licensing of his patents to ease into manufacturing. Bill Gates went the non-exclusive licensing route with MS/DOS, becoming the richest man in the world as a result.
2. He underestimates the quality and regulatory requirements of auto parts manufacture.
3. He ignores the existing business relationships and dependencies of the automotive business.
4. He fails to manage his emotions.

1 Comment

• Wick Feb 7, 2009 4:50PM

  Regarding BrianSez’s Review
  Good call on Bill Smitrovich. He’s always interesting.

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