The World's Fastest Indian TV Review

When the TiVo in our home theater recorded The World's Fastest Indian as a suggestion, my husband watched it all by himself one evening when I had to work late. Without thinking, he deleted the movie, but then just two days later sought it out to record on our downstairs television, insisting that I had to watch it with him.

I have a notoriously short attention span, and getting me to sit through a movie is often a hard sell for my husband, so the fact that he was willing to sit through a second showing within a week made an impression on me. We sat down to watch it one evening, and as soon as the movie was over I went upstairs to send an e-mail to my father. "You have to rent 'The World's Fastest Indian'. Do it now. Don't ask, just do it. Trust me."

The movie was just so enjoyable that for us, it was an experience that must be shared.

About "The World's Fastest Indian"
First: The Indian in question isn't a person. It's a heavily-modified 1920 Indian motorcycle. The Indian's owner is Burt Munro, who in 1967 set the under-1000cc land speed world record on his ancient motorcycle. The movie is based on the true story of the New Zealander's trip to the United States in 1967 to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The movie portrays Munro as an eccentric, but kind-hearted elderly gentlemen. In his pursuit of the record, Munro faces hardships and challenges with steadfast, optimistic resolve. When he meets someone, he's not meeting a stranger, but making a new friend, and the movie follows him as he works through each challenging situation with his new friends.

"The World's Fastest Indian" is a touching tale, and its subtly told against the backdrop of New Zealand, California and Utah. I found myself completely drawn into the story almost instantly, and feeling a little sad as the movie drew to a close, simply because this story about Burt Munro was coming to an end.

Anthony Hopkins plays Burt Munro, with a thick kiwi accent and a cheery smile. This role highlights his acting chops as he deftly morphs into a character so unlike his famous Hannibal Lechter that it's hard to imagine the same visage ever being anything but kind, gentle and determined. Hopkins really makes this movie with terrific subtle nuances that lift up the character and the story far above the actor playing him.

Cat's Bottom Line
This movie isn't a thriller, mystery or drama. It's a simple, inspired story of a man achieving his dream in a humble way, using his relationships with people, his gentle nature and his unwavering focus. If you're looking for a fast-paced action adventure, keep looking, but if you want a great story about a humble man, then as I told my father, rent it now. Just do it.