Review of Flash of Genius (2008) by Chris P — 16 Jan 2010

While it was a well acted and interesting movie, I was a bit wary about the final 'message' of this movie. If you haven't seen it, please don't read more, as there are SPOILERS ahead. But essentially, Robert Kearns invents the interstitial windshield wiper and gets it ripped off by the auto industry.

No surprise there. The surprise for me was how he was willing to let his family be torn apart in his pursuit of justice. By the end of the movie, the filmmakers seem to imply we should be 'happy' for his victory.

When in actuality, the man is one of the biggest losers in life I know. Sure, getting credit for your creation is important...but more important than your family and kids? The filmmakers imply in the movie that Kearns and his wife are best of friends with an amazing relationship before this all happens.

So it makes it even more unbelievable that he'd choose his credit to the invention over their marriage. Let's hope others see the ending as a failure instead of a victory.