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Hopkins is up to speed in 'The World's Fastest Indian'

Like Judi Dench, Anthony Hopkins is a veteran actor of enormous range whose screen appearances are always welcome, regardless of how slight the vehicle.

That statement is put to the test with The World's Fastest Indian, the hard-to-swallow, true-life yarn of a New Zealand mechanic who fulfills a dream by heading to America to race his modified 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle — the Indian of the film's title — at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats.

Magnolia Films 'The World's Fastest Indian' B The verdict: A crusty Hopkins triumphs in a far-fetched but true tale of a New Zealand motorcyclist intent on setting a land speed record. 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. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime [an error occurred while processing this directive]

While the movie feels like a handful of genres combined by a calculating marketing team, Hopkins' winning performance as a dotty old man with a faulty heart, prostate problems and an irrepressible attitude toward life manages to overcome the film's shortcomings.

Although the movie surely diverges from the facts, there really was a Burt Munro who sailed from his small Kiwi town of Invercargill in the 1960s and made his way to the Utah desert where he set a land speed record. Director Roger Donaldson — who teamed with Hopkins two decades earlier on The Bounty — should know, because in 1971 he made a documentary about Munro and his exploits. That apparently gives him license to retell the story as a feature film with endearing, though far-fetched liberties taken with the story.

Donaldson conceives the film as a feel-good, fish-out-of-water road-picture which eventually climaxes as a sports movie. As its center, however, is a character sketch of a stubborn, but likable eccentric adamant on making his mark in the world, even if that mark is a splatter of blood from a motorcycle crash.

Munro is quickly established as an oddball, a guy who lives alone in a cinderblock hut that doubles as his workshop. His world revolves around the Indian motorcycle, when he is not urinating on his lemon tree, that is. His neighbors look down on him quizzically, but when he announces he is heading to the States, they throw him a party and raise money for the trip.

The America he encounters is full of obstacles, but strangers all but melt in his presence. Anyone he meets cannot do enough for him, including a transvestite motel clerk (Chris Williams), a hard-bitten used car salesman (Paul Rodriguez) and a widow (Diane Ladd) who takes him into her bed.

When he arrives at Bonneville and learns that he should have registered months ago, even that does not deter Burt, who gets officials to cut the red tape and ignore the rules. Although his ancient bike has bald tires, no brakes, no safety equipment and no hope of making it through the course, it not only does so, but it establishes a land speed record. There is no explanation for how this is possible, so just take it on faith or believe in one man's determination.

More than Burt, the man to believe in is Hopkins, who radiates an enthusiasm for life and an indomitable attitude that trumps all doubts. As always, the actor seems to be working effortlessly, which greatly helps the credibility of this tale.

Buy into it or not, The World's Fastest Indian is an enjoyable dose of escapism, a stirring inspirational yarn or simply a performance that deserves to be seen.