REEL CRITICS:

“Flash of Genius” is a classic true-life tale of David beating Goliath. But the arena of combat is the American courtroom. A college professor invents the intermittent windshield wiper that eventually becomes standard equipment for every car on the road. But executives at Ford and Chrysler decide to steal his idea at an early stage of development and claim it as their own.

Greg Kinnear gives a bravura performance as the obsessed inventor, Robert Kearns. His patents for the device are ignored by the auto makers. Alan Alda plays a brief but riveting role as a high-powered lawyer who tries to settle the lawsuit against Ford for $250,000. When Kearns refuses to accept the offer, the lawyer withdraws from the case. His wife leaves him as his family life falls apart.

The stubborn Kearns decides to move forward on his own. Over many turbulent years, he represents himself in the ongoing legal battle against the big corporations. In the end, he prevails and wins millions in jury awards. Though we know the outcome, this film bears watching as a real life account that plays right into the headlines of today’s corporate misdeeds.

Party girl steals show in sweet-sour teen comedy

“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” is a shy, smart romantic comedy set in a world of rock clubs and all-night diners in New York.

Michael Cera (“Juno”) is Nick, a high school senior mooning over ex-girlfriend Tris. She’s one of those pretty but mean girls who can’t resist making catty remarks at Norah (Kat Dennings).

Nick & Norah “meet cute” at a club, and pretend to be a couple in front of Tris. Most of the night is spent with them bantering, arguing and trying to find Norah’s sloshed best friend, Caroline (Ari Graynor).

Norah is irritated that a nice guy like Nick would want to get back with Tris, who cheated on him the entire time they were dating (“I could floss with her.”) Tris jealously follows them around, hapless date in tow, and decides they are having too good a time. Following the mean girl’s handbook, Tris tries to break these two up and torture poor Nick once more.

Set against a terrific soundtrack, “Nick & Norah” is full of eclectic, endearing characters and moments that vary from sweet to dumb to downright gross. The chemistry and sweet-sour dialogue between the two leads feels genuine, and you just know their romance is a sure thing.

But it’s the fearless Graynor as the happy, hard-drinking party girl, who really steals the show with a single piece of chewing gum.

JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company.