"Race the Sun" is essentially a warmer-climate version of "Cool Runnings," crossed with "Stand and Deliver."
Oh, sure, "Cool Runnings" was a variation on "The Mighty Ducks," which owed an obvious debt to . . . oh, let's just cut to the chase. All these pictures are really just different versions of "Rocky," which didn't just spawn four sequels - it built an entire genre. You know, the underdog-who-goes-for-the-gold-in-some-sporting-event movie.
In fact, after "Race the Sun" - which is about an international solar-car racing competition - all that's left is bowling. ("Race the Pins," perhaps? Or "Cool Strikes"?)
Anyway, like "Cool Runnings," "Race Sun" is reportedly based on a true story. Halle Berry stars as an idealistic teacher who moves to Hawaii, finds that most of her students are likable losers and decides to bolster their confidence by encouraging their talents.
This leads to their building a solar car, entering a local qualifying race and then finding themselves in Australia for the exhausting desert race.
The kids on the team are the usual mix - the design genius, the build-it genius, the computer genius, etc. - each with an individual attitude or family problem.
Laughs, tears, humor and heartache are as predictable as romantic subplots - and there's even James Belushi as the requisite curmudgeon, in this case an auto-shop teacher who is quite cynical about the kids' chances . . . until the final reel.
Fortunately, those kids - and Berry and Belushi - are loaded with charm, and the script (by "Rain Man" Oscar-winner Barry Morrow) has enough amusing elements to keep it afloat most of the way.
You've seen it all before, but the Hawaiian and Australian backdrops are gorgeous, the solar cars are wacky, and it's all fairly amusing most of the way.
"Race the Sun" is rated PG for some profanity and a few vulgar bits of business.