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Overall Rating
 Awesome: 44.26%
Worth A Look: 32.79%
Average: 11.48%
Pretty Bad: 11.48%
Total Crap: 0%
4 reviews, 37 user ratings
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World's Fastest Indian, The |
by William Goss
"Pedal To The Mettle"

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'The World’s Fastest Indian' refers to the motorcycle of one Burt Munro, the New Zealand native who set the land speed record with his trusty bike. The film’s lengthy journey, however, turns out to be just as smooth as the salt flats in which the record was broken. After all, what’s more endearing than an elderly eccentric dedicated to breaking the land speed record? According to 'Indian,' not a damn thing.Anthony Hopkins delivers an adequately lightweight performance as the perpetually perky lead, emitting a endless sense of dedication and spunk as he travels halfway around the world, from his home in Invercargill to the salt flats of Bonneville, Utah. Once the film takes its sweet time establishing Munro’s part in the community, he departs for the States with his Indian in tow. The remainder of the first half is dedicated to episodic detours from his road trip, during which Burt charms yet another American into helping his cause. Whether it be a cross-dressing hotel clerk or an isolated widow, they always find Munro’s moxie undeniable and go out of their way to help him out. Besides, he didn’t come all the way from Invercargill, New Zealand for nothing. Eventually, Munro reaches the salt flats and once more works his Kiwi charm in order to participate in Speed Week and attempt to set a new land-speed record. (Hint: if a movie was made about him, chances are he succeeded.)
However, the forced whimsy soon begins to wear thin as the story continues along its prolonged and predictable path. Setting records is still a commendable feat, and congeniality is always welcome, but writer/director Roger Donaldson (Species, Dante’s Peak) suffers from a single-minded pursuit of pep, as does the film. This is not to say the film is impossible to enjoy. One would find it difficult not to pull for Munro to some degree, and the underdog factor never mutates into manipulative melodrama. A healthy amount of humor and a game ensemble ensure that Indian never surrenders to cynicism. Although Hopkins embodies Munro most admirably, the whole movie relies on the sheer gumption of the circumstances and the relentless optimism of the lead to help carry it through familiar terrain.
It is nice to see Hopkins behave in such a lively manner. Few scenes seem to lack his sincere smile or his hearty chuckle, and it never appears that perhaps Hopkins is struggling to counteract his sinister reputation as Hannibal Lecter by wooing ladies and befriending the lad next door. Munro is even too stubborn to let laws or even his own heart condition hinder him from reaching his goal.At a time in which heavier fare probes new depths of negativity and depravity, it doesn’t hurt to have a film as overtly loveable as 'The World’s Fastest Indian' to bring back some balance to the theatre marquee, even if one wishes it didn’t come on nearly as strong as it had. These days, it’s just nice to know someone gives a pluck.
link directly to this review at https://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=12829&reviewer=409 originally posted: 02/06/06 06:54:05
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OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2005 Toronto Film Festival For more in the 2005 Toronto Film Festival series, click here.
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USA 09-Dec-2005 (PG-13) DVD: 13-Jun-2006
UK 24-Feb-2006 (12A)
Australia 06-Apr-2006
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