Radio Review

"Radio" reviews

Movie

Radio

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-09-01 22:07:07

Rating

3/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

Inspired by a true story, Radio is the tale of a mentally challenged young man nicknamed Radio and the high school football coach who takes him under his wing, onto the bench and into his classroom.

Story

Radio is the kind of movie some critics might call the ''feel-good movie of the year,'' and it would be a fair assessment. When Coach Jones asks the mentally disabled Radio to help him coach the high school football team, he brings him into the small community of Anderson, S.C., and most--although not all--folks embrace him. That lets the audience ''feel good'' about how considerate, kind and compassionate we all have the potential to be--and it doesn't just feel good, it feels great. Until, that is, the jerk in the back row of the theater refuses to either answer or turn off his cell phone, which has been playing ''Turkey in the Straw'' at high volume for five minutes, and we are sorely tempted to run back there and drop-kick him through the screen. Now that would feel good. But both the audience and the cast have much to learn from the good-hearted Radio about kindness to one's enemies. Given his fixation with radios of all kinds, he would probably hug the cell phone owner and take great joy in his obnoxious gadget. And as in life, so goes the film. Even though some folks don't cotton to the idea of a handicapped adult black male hanging around a high school (yes, his race is relevant to the film--this is South Carolina in 1976, after all), Radio's good-hearted nature eventually overcomes most of their objections.

Acting

Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. is back in form in Radio--at long last. He creates a charming, likeable character, and if it seems at times that he's overplaying Radio to get laughs, well, at least it lightens things up. In any case, his timing--comic or otherwise--is impeccable, and he keeps the scenes lively and the pacing up. Four-time Oscar nominee Ed Harris is solid as the admirable Coach Jones; his performance grounds the movie and his levelheaded, non-emotive style keeps the cast overall from sinking into melodrama--a definite risk in a movie like this. Equally good are supporting players: Alfre Woodard as the high school principal, S. Epatha Merkerson as Radio's mother and Debra Winger as Coach Jones' wife.

Direction

It's rare to find a story about a mentally challenged individual that can move you without leaving you feeling emotionally manipulated, but Radio is so infused with genuine feeling--both in Michael Rich's script and in the performances--that it for the most part escapes this typical ''true story'' trap. Sure, it's a little sappy, but director Mike Tollin can be credited with keeping a tight reign on the scenes and the transitions between them, so the film rarely gets too heavy, despite its subject matter--and when it does Tollin quickly returns to less weighty material. That's not to say the movie isn't meaningful, only that it doesn't dwell on its own meaningfulness--a welcome relief after other films of this ilk that do.

Bottom Line

Feel-good themes and fine performances from Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Ed Harris make Radio a great pre-holiday film.

Movie

RADIO

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-27 22:16:48

Provider

Review

They say that truth is stranger than fiction and it's probably fair to say that this movie, which stars Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris, is a good example of that time-tested adage - mainly because if this story wasn't true you wouldn't believe it or would criticise the screenwriter for such sentimental mush.

Cuba plays James 'Radio' Kennedy, a mentally disabled man who got his nickname from the portable radio he carries with him everywhere. Living in Anderson, South Carolina, the local community are rather suspicious of Radio but he's soon taken under the wing of high school football coach Harold Jones (Harris) after being tormented by some of the players. As the friendship between the pair deepens, so does Radio's good-natured influence on the team.

This is one of those films which is just so sweet and icky you'll want to hate it - but you'll find that difficult to do. Despite almost every cliché in the book, Radio comes across as a sweet, heartfelt tale which wants to put a smile on your face. Even the villains involved in the piece don't really seem to be profoundly malicious.

In the title role, Cuba Gooding Jr seems to rediscover the form which had deserted him ever since Jerry Maguire. He underplays the part with simplicity and innocence, while Ed Harris provides a picture portrayal of compassion and patience.

A reasonably strong supporting cast including Alfre Woodard, Debra Winger and S Epatha Merkerson do their jobs admirably enough.

Sure the film has it's shortcomings - some clumsy direction and at times a rather contrived script - but one of it's major plus points is the fact that it's a 'sports' film which doesn't need a grandstand finale to keep us enthralled. In short if you're looking for a film free from cynicism, spite or anger, then Radio should fit the bill.