Race the Sun
Encyclopedia
Race the Sun is a 1996 comedy-drama movie starring Halle Berry
and James Belushi
. The plot is loosely based on the true story of the Konawaena High School
Solar Car Team, which finished 18th in the 1990 World Solar Challenge
and first place among high school entries.
) at Kona Pali High School in Hawaii pushes a group of students widely considered to be losers by their peers to come up with an ambitious science project. The students comes up with the idea of building a solar-powered car to enter into a race being held locally. With a combination of design vision, mechanical skills, knowledge of batteries, and lightweight drivers, the students design and build a solar-powered car they dubb "Cockroach." Their team manages to edge out a corporate sponsored team to win the local Big Island
competition by correctly predicting cloudy weather based on the surfing experience of the student captain, Daniel (Casey Affleck
). Cloudy weather would make their vehicle's battery capacity a more important factor than its weight.
With the shop teacher as chaperone (James Belushi
), the students travel to Australia to compete in the World Solar Challenge. To the relief of their corporate sponsor (Kevin Tighe
), who is still bitter over the loss of his company-built vehicle in Hawaii, their car is delayed at the very start of the race. However, the students choose to persevere and remain in the race.
A sand storm and other difficulties provide occasions for heroism. Uni (Sara Tanaka
) pilots the car through difficult terrain, but has an accident and is rescued by Gilbert (J. Moki Cho). After Cindy (Eliza Dushku
) is disqualified from driving for drinking alcohol, Eduardo (Anthony Ruivivar
) puts aside his "lolo-haole" conflict with Daniel and reduces the car to allow the overweight Gilbert to drive.
, who had shared the 1988 Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay for Rain Man
. The story was based on the solar car team from Konawaena High School
, which finished 18th overall in the 1990 World Solar Challenge
and first place among high school entries, and was the first high school team to finish the Challenge.
for solar cars, saying it "boasts not only the lively spectacle of the race but also the kids learning to set aside their differences and insecurities to bond as a team. It's not a soaring, transcendent film experience -- mostly it's corny and predictable. But it has a certain sunny charm and a few winning gags to keep it in the winning column." Carole Glines of Box Office Magazine also mentions the film's predictability, saying the student characters "all receive about a minute of screen time for character development as the plot paces through its predictable course." Hollis Chacona of the Austin Chronicle said "you might as well call this movie Hot Runnings", and notes that J. Moki Cho's character Gilbert gives this film substance and a "sweet quality that makes it easier to swallow than you might expect".
The film grossed $1,116,504 on its opening weekend and grossed a total of $1.9 million in the U.S.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry is an American actress and a former fashion model. Berry received an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and an NAACP Image Award for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and won an Academy Award for Best Actress and was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2001 for her performance in Monster's Ball, becoming...
and James Belushi
James Belushi
James Adam "Jim" Belushi is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is the younger brother of comic actor John Belushi.-Early life:Belushi was born in Chicago...
. The plot is loosely based on the true story of the Konawaena High School
Konawaena High School
Konawaena High School is a public school located in the community of Kealakekua, Kona District, Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. Konawaena means "the center of the leeward side" in the Hawaiian Language.-History:...
Solar Car Team, which finished 18th in the 1990 World Solar Challenge
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide.The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations although some are fielded by high schools...
and first place among high school entries.
Plot
A new science teacher (Halle BerryHalle Berry
Halle Berry is an American actress and a former fashion model. Berry received an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and an NAACP Image Award for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and won an Academy Award for Best Actress and was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2001 for her performance in Monster's Ball, becoming...
) at Kona Pali High School in Hawaii pushes a group of students widely considered to be losers by their peers to come up with an ambitious science project. The students comes up with the idea of building a solar-powered car to enter into a race being held locally. With a combination of design vision, mechanical skills, knowledge of batteries, and lightweight drivers, the students design and build a solar-powered car they dubb "Cockroach." Their team manages to edge out a corporate sponsored team to win the local Big Island
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
competition by correctly predicting cloudy weather based on the surfing experience of the student captain, Daniel (Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck
Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt , better known as Casey Affleck, is an American actor and film director. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he played supporting roles in mainstream hits like Good Will Hunting and Ocean's Eleven as well as in critically acclaimed independent films such as...
). Cloudy weather would make their vehicle's battery capacity a more important factor than its weight.
With the shop teacher as chaperone (James Belushi
James Belushi
James Adam "Jim" Belushi is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is the younger brother of comic actor John Belushi.-Early life:Belushi was born in Chicago...
), the students travel to Australia to compete in the World Solar Challenge. To the relief of their corporate sponsor (Kevin Tighe
Kevin Tighe
Kevin Tighe is an American character actor primarily known for his roles on television. Tighe is best known for his role as Roy DeSoto, a senior paramedic, on the NBC series Emergency! . He and Randolph Mantooth, his partner in the series, have remained close friends...
), who is still bitter over the loss of his company-built vehicle in Hawaii, their car is delayed at the very start of the race. However, the students choose to persevere and remain in the race.
A sand storm and other difficulties provide occasions for heroism. Uni (Sara Tanaka
Sara Tanaka
Sara Tanaka is an American film actress. She is best known for her roles in Rushmore, Old School, and Race The Sun....
) pilots the car through difficult terrain, but has an accident and is rescued by Gilbert (J. Moki Cho). After Cindy (Eliza Dushku
Eliza Dushku
Eliza Patricia Dushku is an American actress known for her television roles, including recurring appearances as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series Angel. She starred in two Fox series, Tru Calling and Dollhouse...
) is disqualified from driving for drinking alcohol, Eduardo (Anthony Ruivivar
Anthony Ruivivar
Anthony Michael Ruivivar is an American actor known for his portrayal of FDNY paramedic Carlos Nieto in the TV series Third Watch, and other law-enforcement roles in different TV series.-Background:...
) puts aside his "lolo-haole" conflict with Daniel and reduces the car to allow the overweight Gilbert to drive.
Production
The film was written and co-produced by Barry MorrowBarry Morrow
Barry Morrow is an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter and producer. He wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay for Rain Man....
, who had shared the 1988 Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay for Rain Man
Rain Man
Rain Man is a 1988 drama film written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass and directed by Barry Levinson. It tells the story of an abrasive and selfish yuppie, Charlie Babbitt, who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son,...
. The story was based on the solar car team from Konawaena High School
Konawaena High School
Konawaena High School is a public school located in the community of Kealakekua, Kona District, Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. Konawaena means "the center of the leeward side" in the Hawaiian Language.-History:...
, which finished 18th overall in the 1990 World Solar Challenge
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide.The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations although some are fielded by high schools...
and first place among high school entries, and was the first high school team to finish the Challenge.
Reception
Stephen Holden of the New York Times said the "movie doesn't waste time admiring the technology at the expense of human drama, of which there is plenty, none of it overblown". Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle compared Race the Sun to Cool RunningsCool Runnings
Cool Runnings is a 1993 comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub. It is loosely based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsled team's debut in the bobsleigh competition of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. It stars Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, and Rawle D...
for solar cars, saying it "boasts not only the lively spectacle of the race but also the kids learning to set aside their differences and insecurities to bond as a team. It's not a soaring, transcendent film experience -- mostly it's corny and predictable. But it has a certain sunny charm and a few winning gags to keep it in the winning column." Carole Glines of Box Office Magazine also mentions the film's predictability, saying the student characters "all receive about a minute of screen time for character development as the plot paces through its predictable course." Hollis Chacona of the Austin Chronicle said "you might as well call this movie Hot Runnings", and notes that J. Moki Cho's character Gilbert gives this film substance and a "sweet quality that makes it easier to swallow than you might expect".
The film grossed $1,116,504 on its opening weekend and grossed a total of $1.9 million in the U.S.
External links
- Race the Sun at RottenTomatoes.com