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'The World's Fastest Indian': Slowed down by side trips

By BOB LONGINO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The infectious and sugary sweet motorcycle saga "The World's Fastest Indian" at times seems like the world's slowest movie.

More than an hour into the film, when very little has happened and so many side characters have popped up to say so little of importance, you might wonder why lead actor Anthony Hopkins hasn't already gotten on his vintage motorbike and sped across the Bonneville Salt Flats so that this darned movie can get on with the business of ending.

Magnolia Films

'The World's Fastest Indian'

C+

The verdict: Anthony Hopkins speeds along just fine, but his sugary sweet motorbike movie nearly wrecks.

Director: Roger Donaldson
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Lawford, Bruce Greenwood, Paul Rodriguez, Diane Ladd
Run time: 127 minutes
Release date: Feb. 3, 2006
Rating: PG-13 for brief language, drug use and a sexual reference.
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But, no. There's more people Hopkins' old coot of a character has to meet and charm. More crazy bike problems he must overcome, and at least one tedious scene where a bunch of characters (including the enthusiastic Marty, played by Lithia Springs-born Walton Goggins) have to mush together in a big group, cheer loudly and smile widely in the hopes that movie audiences will get all weepy.

Based on the true story in 1967 of aging New Zealand go-getter Bruce Munro, "The World's Fastest Indian" is all about his half-a-world trek with his 1920 Indian motorbike to Utah's Bonneville Speedway in the hopes of setting a world land-speed record topping 200 mph.

There's much here that plenty of moviegoers will like.

Beautiful cinematography. A homily-filled screenplay that's a veritable celebration of the can-do attitude of an aging but spry senior citizen. And, of course, there's Hopkins. He doesn't just play Munro, he nails the guy as a witty, self-effacing, inviting, interesting and oddball icon for the aged.

It's Australia-born writer-director Roger Donaldson ("Dante's Peak," "Thirteen Days") who makes the movie overripe and corny.

Like the side adventures in "The Straight Story," which celebrated the obsessed antics of lawn-mower rider Alvin Straight, "The World's Fastest Indian" has its peripatetic main character meet and befriend a slew of people. Among them, a sweet transvestite, a rugged Western widow (Diane Ladd), a helpful Native American and a Vietnam War soldier on leave. The latter talks all about having to use Agent Orange.

Unlike in "The Straight Story," all of Munro's meet-ups lead to very little.

In fact, "The Straight Story's" inching-along lawn mower outguns "The World's Fastest Indian" in almost every way.

Hopkins is well worth watching. And the film's record-setting run is a good mixture of cinematography, film editing and drama that works.

One does wonder, though, why Donaldson has the onlookers at the starting line still cupping their hands and shouting encouragement to Munro even as he and his speeding bike have ventured miles away on the salt flats.

That's simply movie magic taking things a bit too far.