Straight blokes macho RACE movie. Wannabe cool, that's it' s downfall, because it tries so hard to be cool, that it ends up looking like a wannabe. Barely ok- ish...

Rating: 4/10 (9 August 2019)

I am not a race car fan at all, but the visual and sonic power of these race cars is truly impressive. Those NASCAR race engines really blasted through my speaker. And the photography of the racing scenes is gorgeous as well.
Unfortunately the story falls flat completely, but hey it will still do as Friday night blokes movie. Get a six pack, eat a lot of hotdogs and enjoy the ride. Best suited for the masses who yearn for mindless formula entertainment or for NASCAR / Race car fans.
This is a typical nineties blockbuster movie, which follows the typical Hollywood blockbuster formula: young hero struggling for success, who becomes a winner in the end and also gets to take home the prettiest girl (Nicole Kidman).
The reason why I only give it 4 stars though is because the story is lousy. Robert Towne (Chinatown) wrote this story, BUT Tom Cruise is featured as CO-writer. Robert Towne is a legend. That famous writer KNOWS how to write a true to life dialogue. Tom Cruise does NOT know, hence as a result we get a movie, with great actors, but with wannabe cool dialogue and story. Barely an enjoyable RACE car flick, but nothing above average, while it could have been, IF ONLY writer Robert Towne would have had full control, which he had NOT.