Bland TV Movie

Rating: Null/10 (2 August 2013)

It wasn't a TV movie, as it was in theaters for a time, but that's essentially what "42" is, a movie made for TV. With only one recognizable star (Harrison Ford, excellent as Branch Rickey) and a bunch of no-names in support, it is remarkable it has as high a rating as it does. Or maybe not so remarkable, given American audiences renowned tolerance for mediocrity.
In any case, "42" breaks no new ground and retells a story which is already out there. There are some racial insults, depictions of black/ white segregation policies and the challenges a black man with great courage will face. It is episodic and contains no emotional highs or lows, given the familiarity of the story and the tenor of the direction. Chadwick Boseman, who plays Jackie Robinson is tall and gangly, whereas Robinson had a stockier build, and missing was Robinson's peculiar pigeon-toed gait. It also contains innocuous background music - and I don't mean the great 40's songs played throughout the picture.
You may like it if are under the age of 30 or are an undiscriminating moviegoer (no pun intended).