The World's Fastest Indian

Rating: 3 stars

By BRET MICHEL | August 10, 2009

3.0 Stars

I used to maintain that I could watch Anthony Hopkins in anything. Jon Turteltaub’s Instinct tested that theory. Now, Hopkins’s beguiling interpretation of genial New Zealand eccentric Burt Munro has made me forget his turn as man-ape Ethan Powell. Almost. Roger Donaldson’s formulaic reworking of events (think Rocky meets The Straight Story) gets its traction from the way Burt charms the pants off almost everyone he meets, including Diane Ladd’s randy widow. As a Kiwi traveling halfway to the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967 in hopes of setting the world's land-speed record with the title motorcycle, Hopkins projects more sex appeal than actors a third his age. Still not convinced? See the film and you’ll discover the link between ripe lemons and “ground-up dog balls.”

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Topics: Reviews , Anthony Hopkins, Roger Donaldson, Jon Turteltaub, More

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