Race The Sun MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -1

When a group of high school misfits from Hawaii band together to make a solar car for science class, none of them dream it will take them to the world solar car race in Australia. Their teacher, Ms. Beecher (Halle Berry), gives them the support and motivation that they need. Daniel (Casey Affleck) comes up with a winning design and their car wins the all-Hawaii race. So these most unlikely champions, instead of a team from an uppity boys' school, are sent to Australia to compete against adults from all over the world for the World Title. The heartbreak and joy of this trip teaches these kids that they can accomplish more than they ever imagined. RACE THE SUN is loosely based on a high school team from Hawaii who in 1990 became the youngest solar team to compete in Australia. Though the plot is predictable, many families will enjoy the humor and good messages of this film.

One of the most positive messages is that hard work, directed to a goal, is rewarded in the end. The kids in the film learn about patience, endurance and, most of all, the necessity of teamwork. One of the girls who starts out with a drinking problem comes to realize, with the help and painful intervention of her brother, that drinking is not cool or acceptable. It is disappointing to hear the number of bad words that come from the kids' mouths. Several obscenities, sexual references and profanities come from the children and the teachers. Without the offensive language, the movie could have easily been rated G. For whatever reasons, the foul language in RACE THE SUN is a painful reminder of what Hollywood feels it has to do to movies to make them believable to a large, family audience. This attitude leaves this reviewer cold.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: TriStar Pictures, 9000 Sunset Blvd., #711, Los Angeles, CA 90069