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Race the Sun

 (Youth adventure -- Color)

By LEONARD KLADY

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A Sony Pictures release of a TriStar Pictures presentation of a Morrow/Heus production. Produced by Richard Heus, Barry Morrow. Exec producer, David Nichols. Directed by Charles T. Kanganis. Screenplay, Morrow.
 
Sandra Beecher - Halle Berry
FrankMachi - James Belushi
Daniel Webster - Casey Affleck
Cindy Johnson - Eliza Dushku
Jack Fryman - Kevin Tighe
Eduardo Broz - Anthony Ruiviar
Gilbert Tutu - J. Moki Cho
Marco Quito - Dion Basco
Uni Kakamura - Sara Tanaka
Oni Nagano - Nadja Pionilla
Hans Kooiman - Steve Zahn
Commissioner Hawkes - Bill Hunter

 

Ingenuity and tenacity are the themes of "Race the Sun," but this tale of working-class kids beating the odds in a solar car derby is predictable and pedestrian. Brimming with good intentions, the film's execution nonetheless falls considerably short of providing an entertainment tonic. It chugs along unevenly, destined to sputter at the box office and in subsequent ancillary playoff.

Set in contemporary Hawaii, the picture revolves around a group of high school "lolos"-- local jargon for deadbeat kids. The teens' lives are changed when Sandra Beecher (Halle Berry) becomes the new science teacher and plants a seed about getting out of their rut with a science fair project. Daniel (Casey Affleck) inspires most of his classmates to join him in designing a solar-driven go-cart.

After a couple of design fiascoes, the team concocts a machine resembling the contours of a cockroach. They enter the regional championships, where their keen attention to incoming inclement weather provides them with a winning margin over the better-financed car from an upscale prep school.

The win earns them a berth in a race across Australia. Up against professional vehicles, it looks like they don't have a chance. But you know darn well that if baling wire, chewing gum and perspiration are what it takes, these plucky kids will be there.

Inspired by Hawaiian students who entered the World Solar Challenge in 1980, "Race the Sun" seems to have gotten derailed by fictionalizing the real incident. It's never quite clear how the team (or any other car) enters or qualifies for the event.

The film, however, has far more grievous faults. Its cardinal sin is a singular lack of tension. The filmmakers deserve special credit for shooting both tropical Hawaii and the rugged Australian outback without the slightest indication that either possesses a hint of natural beauty.

Barry Morrow's script suffers acutely from its lack of focus. Youthful underdogs put to the sporting test have spawned dozens of film cliches, thanks to such better-realized movies as "Breaking Away,""The Bad News Bears" and "The Karate Kid." The solar car picture appears intent on visiting every single one from vying siblings to racial tension, economic diversity, the hand of corrupt business and the dilemma of the fat kid. Simply put, none gets its fair due.

Ironically, in the hash of "Race the Sun," the ensemble of kids is actually quite compelling. The picture is well-cast with bright new faces and seasoned vets. If the casting director had been in charge of all departments, this film might have improved considerably.

Camera (Atlab color), David Burr; editor, Wendy Greene Bricmont; music, Graeme Revell; production design, Owen Paterson; art direction, Richard Hobbs, Michelle McGahey; costume design, Margot Wilson; sound (Dolby), David Lee; solar car coordinators, Michael Lendrum, Tapio Piituloinen; assistant director, Robert Donaldson; casting, Sharon Bialy. Reviewed at the Beverly Connection, L.A., March 14, 1996. MPAA Rating: PG. Running Time: 99 min.