Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller) was positive his dreams of competing at the highest levels of world cycling were bust the moment his beloved bicycle shop went out of business. But the fighter’s instincts bubbling inside of him, instincts he’s relied upon his whole life to keep him safe and out of trouble, will not die. With the unwavering support of his wife Anne (Laura Fraser) and assistance of his newly appointed manager Malky (Billy Boyd) he’s going to break the World One Hour Cycling record, and he’s going to do it on a bike he builds and designs himself.

Not an easy task, especially when said bike – nicknamed “Old Faithful” – is basically made out of scrap metal and old washing machine parts fashioned together in the backyard workshop of a kindly old minister named Baxter (Brian Cox). But Graeme’s path is clear, and putting his personal demons aside he’s ready to take to the track at the prestigious Hamar Velodrome and change the sport of cycling forever.

Based on the remarkable true story, The Flying Scotsman is a too heart-warming and emotionally compelling to dismiss. Sure it is an overly familiar tale, a story we’ve seen numerous times in a million incarnations played out as familiarly by the book as a sequel to Rocky, but those rampant clichés don’t end up mattering anywhere near as much as you think they should. The film is fascinating on a lot of different levels, and even though the sense of déjà vu I experienced while watching it was uncomfortably omnipresent it was thankfully erased due to the compelling performances and the stirring subject matter.

Good thing, too, because there isn’t an original bone in this pictures body. Elements of Hoosiers, Rocky, Breaking Away and even American Flyers abound. Veteran British television director Douglas Mackinnon doesn’t exactly wow audiences with his theatrical debut, the film about as studied and as familiar as any I could have imagined. I’m also not exactly happy with the screenplay, the strange overlapping narrative not doing a thing to bring anymore emotional nuance or immediacy to the tale.

Still, I enjoyed this one quite a bit for the most part. Obree story is viscerally inspiring, and anyone who has seen loved ones battle mental illness can’t help but be moved by the interpersonal drama going on between he and his wife Anne. Besides, rousing sports stories with even a smidgen of talent behind them always seem to choke me up (if only a little bit) and this one definitely does that and then some.

Much of the reason there, of course, is thanks to the stellar cast Mackinnon has been able to line up. Boyd shows he’s more than just a Hobbit from the Shire investing Malky with copious amounts of friendly perseverance, while veteran character actor Cox is pure joy as an aging clergyman who realizes right off the bat there is more greatness than meets the eye where it comes to Obree.

But this is Miller’s show and the one-time juvenile star of Trainspotting and Hackers does not disappoint. This is easily the most complex performance of the young actor’s career. Miller digs right into Graeme’s multifarious personalities with venomous relish, turning this tragically conflicted figure into a heroic cyclist worthy of a standing ovation. He’s terrific, and by the time things were all over I found I couldn’t even imagine another actor trying to make something of the role.

Listen, we aren’t talking Shakespeare here. This movie isn’t going to change anyone’s life or convince them they witnessed a new dawn in cinematic history. But it is entertaining and, more importantly, it’s hugely inspiring, all of which makes The Flying Scotsman a rousing tour de success.

Film Rating: êê1/2  (out of 4)