As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

This film is one to watch if having difficulty falling asleep. I'm from Madison, Wisconsin, the largest of the 19 Madison's. I have never been to Madison, Indiana, but would like to visit. Madison, Wisconsin could hold regattas and do, with sailboats, as opposed to power boats. Perhaps they do hold powerboat races, since I'm frequently out of town.That aside, the film doesn't do justice to any large or small city. I didn't become engaged to Madison, Indiana by watching this film. Was I supposed to? Since when does powerboat racing turn the average film viewer on? This film just doesn't hold the interest of myself and others who watched the movie with me.

Not yet, anyway. Motto: keep the smaller venues in play. Unapolegeticaly old fashioned and drenched heavily in the spray of cinematic clichés, this time capsule of a family drama clicks on all cylinders. I, however, might be a wee bit biased. I think I saw the Gold Cup Hydroplane Race depicted here on "Wide World of Sports," back in 1971. I was eight. It's one thing to recall the first moon landing, and another thing, entirely, to recall a long ago boat race in Indiana. I must be nuts. But it does create an odd, nostalgic feeling for me. The young boy, played by the kid from the new Star Wars films, emotes excitement well, but is lacking in conveying sorrow or remorse. He does, however, have a nifty Schwin bike: high handle bars, banana seat, and a sweet gear shift. Watching him peddle that two-wheeler through Madison, the Grass Roots blasting on the soundtrack, stirs memories from anyone who was around that boy's age, back then. Like me. The underdog "Miss Madison" team from the small, backwater village of Madison, a location the racing circuit wishes would gracefully fade away, somehow pulls it all together to compete in the big race. Along the watery way, the team suffers through a lack of funds for repairs, blown engines and the death of a skilled driver. It's all quite routine--but, ultimately, well done. The movie had the misfortune of spending four years on the studio's misfit shelf. Fitting. It's better than that. So crank up the air conditioner full blast and enjoy the final blow out.

I have lived in and around Madison for 47 years. In the movie the voice over says that the Miss Madison had not won a race since 1973. Well that all changed in 2001 (30 years after the movie was set) when the Miss Madison won the Gold Cup in front of the hometown crowd a second time.In that race Steve David brought the Miss Madison to the win in his first appearance in our hometown. He has since stayed with the team and they are showing quite respectfully.The sport has meant a lot to the town but unfortunately the fan basis seems to have tapered off. As a youngster I remember the river bank being filled like it was portrayed in the movie. I hope this movie helps breath some life into both the sport for the Miss Madison and the town of Madison.

...even as I hoped for better. With Madison as my hometown, and indeed being a spectator at the very race featured in the movie, I was greatly anticipating the release of this eponymous movie. My rating of 6.0 comes with the effort of trying to divorce my evaluation from such personal facts. Much of the acting was wooden (especially between the McCormicks), and there were too many inexplicable occurrences. As one example, Jim McCormick's son doesn't seem to be much bothered by having his mother leaving his dad for her mother's house. My rating also allows for the needed artistic license that was taken. For instance, the replacement Allison engine was not "borrowed" as depicted in the movie. And Chicago was not a stop on the hydroplane circuit, and most certainly would not have been the scene of the APBA gathering. While a personal matter, the sound track (ie, the pop/rock songs popular at the time) didn't add a usual complementary element. Conversely, the production values were very good, and the racing scenes were realistic. I got a bit confused on the boats depicted in the movie, and can only figure they were using what was available at the time of shooting the movie. But Atlas Van Lines and Budweiser were certainly top boats at the time (along with the absent Miss Exide). The Budweiser folks were portrayed as arrogant, but I suppose a villain was needed. Separately, at some point they should have said how fast these boats go. The portrait of Madison was fair, but underplayed its historic significance and physical beauty. As a gauge, my evaluation of the other Hoosier-themed sports movies depicting great odds being overcome has Hoosiers at a "10" and Breaking Away an "8". And finally, if you want to see the movie, the ten people in attendance yesterday indicates you'd better do it soon!