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Jim Caviezel passed up a chance to be a character in one of the best comic book movies ever made. The actor recently told The Seattle Times that he was cast as Cyclops for the original X-Men movie, a box-office and critical hit in 2000. But then another script came along, and Caviezel, who says he was "literally in costume as Cyclops," bolted the X set and took the other acting gig instead.

The Passion of the Christ? Nope. That would come later. Caviezel passed up the chance to be a superhero with "optic fire blasts" to instead play the role of …. a boat racer. That's Caviezel's gig in Madison, a film that, though shot in 2001, had been shelved for more than three years before hitting theaters today.

Back when Caviezel made his decision, no one suspected that Bryan Singer's big gamble would become the best blockbuster franchise of the recent comic-book adaptation surge. At the time, Madison might have seemed like a wise choice. That's a shame. As action movies go, the X-Men flicks are bursting with creativity, passion, and directorial imagination, and they're surprisingly meaningful and relevant. Madison, on the other hand, is flat, formulaic, and forgettable.

Jim Caviezel and Jake Lloyd as father and son

It's hard not to wonder if William Brindley's lackluster movie about hydroplane racing was shelved because of its flaws. It may be that it's coming to theatres now only because the name "Caviezel" is popular with a sizeable audience, thanks to Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Madison is revving with good intentions, but it runs a predictable course with no distinct style to set it apart. And it's a hero story that asks us to accept some rather questionable decisions.

The true story of hydroplane hero Jim McCormick certainly sounds matinee-worthy. In 1971, Madison, Indiana was a coal-mining community in an economic crisis. Woolworths was closing, and Midwest Barge and Coal was losing laborers to better jobs elsewhere, making the town "obsolete." The best local option for recreation and distraction was the Ohio River, perfect for hydroplane races. When the opportunity to host a major hydroplane championship—the Gold Cup—ignited the ambitions of local hydroplane enthusiasts, boating fans witnessed an against-all-odds success story on national television.

John Mellencamp provides nostalgic narration as Mike McCormick, reminiscing about his legendary father Jim (Caviezel), a former hydroplane pilot and a decent, simple soul who takes on the burden of saving the town. Jim's heart bleeds for his frustrated neighbors and their lifestyle and tradition, which are threatened by the shift in the transportation industry from waterways to roads. He decides to lead the fight for Madison's right to host the Gold Cup. First he must raise the $50,000 deposit necessary to host the race, or else the pressure applied by the villainous San Diego and corporate interests will spoil the fun. Second, he must prepare the community-owned hydroplane—Miss Madison—for its chief competition: the slick, cutting-edge Miss Budweiser. Through his efforts, he also finds an opportunity to face his fears, work through a loss, and show his son what some guts, determination, and mechanical skills can accomplish.

Caviezel would've had cooler sunglasses as Cyclops in X-Men

Despite its weaknesses, Madison is made watchable by James Glennon's cinematography, by its period authenticity (complete with clips from ABC's "Wide World of Sports"), and by the earnest efforts of its cast. Caviezel portrays Jim as convincingly solemn and principled. As the narrator's younger self, Jake Lloyd shows about the same range of emotion and talent that he exhibited as young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars, Episode One: The Phantom Menace. (Make of that what you will.) Performing the thankless task of Jim's shortsighted wife Bonnie, Mary McCormack (yes, a McCormack playing a McCormick) invests her bland dialogue with emotion and personality. Big screen veteran Bruce Dern brings wry humor to his cookie-cutter role of the Wise Old Man, the Yoda of hydroplane racing who shows up with crucial know-how when the going gets tough.

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