Not just a football movie.

Rating: Null/10 (22 February 2004)

set in 1976, A high school coach named Jones decides to take a mentally challenged black man nick named Radio under his wing in an attempt to inspire his football team to win. Eventually, Radio and Jones develop a unique friendship that extends over a few decades.
Naturally you can tell that there will be prejudcie from the white football players on Radio. Naturally, you already know that everyone will come to like Radio for who he is, which is a very good thing. The thing that you don't know if you've seen the commercials, is that this is NOT just about football. The film has been advertised too much as a football movie and therefore turns out to slow down dramaticly after all the football games and practices.
But Cuba Gooding Jr.'s performance is so incredible, and so 'tender' in a sense that you don't care. If this movie were advertised as more than a football movie than I have a feeling that it would be twice as successful.
I have a problem with Ed Harris here. In the beginning of "Radio" he appears to not care about his performance; acting like he's just in for the money. Eventually he starts to put a little more into his role and it turns out to be a decent one.
Cuba Gooding Jr. is shocking as Radio. We all know VERY well from his "Jerry Maguire" role that he isn't mentally retarded. But in this performance he acts just like someone who has those characteristics. Gooding obviously puts a lot into his character. Excellent performance.
Overall, not bad, not great, but still fun. ** 1/2 out of ****