Heart Warming Story Strangely Politicized

Rating: 7/10 (21 October 2010)

Director John Lee Hancock (The Rookie) makes his first major film outside of the Disney Company. It is based upon the true story of Michael Oher, an Offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens. The story features a group of football coaches playing themselves during the recruiting segment. It is based upon Michael Lewis 2006 novel.
It is interesting that this story uses politics to base most of its humor. The humor stereotypes the no-no topic of black men with white women & then adds a social comment about the kids at school making fun of the white Republican family with the adopted black son. It is necessary to do this because of the way the true story happened though it is treated like this is still a social taboo? That might be true in the area this movie takes place, but that taboo has been shattered in many areas of this country many years ago now.
Still, I guess it enhances the story because it helps provide a more vivid image to the background Michael Oher grew up in. It makes it easier for Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) to look like someone above the fray, willing to bring a disadvantaged young black man into her family & come off looking better than others. Since it appears the real Tuohy family is Republican, this is a great way to attempt too poke fun at both parties on this issue. One thing it does do real well, it shows how Football Coaches are sometimes out of touch with their players.
The movie comes off though I think the viewer might be better off taking time too read the Michael Lewis book in order to get a better perspective on what the reality of the story is. This one is obviously cleaned up from the reality in order to keep a moderate PG-13 rating. This reflects Hancocks Disney roots. This keeps it close to a warm fuzzy family film.
Still, the movie preserves the message of creating hope for those with out it. Bullock's character dominates the film, hence the academy award. Everyone in the cast does well with the script they are given & Quinton Aaron deserves a lot of credit in how he plays Oher. He portrays a troubled & despaired young man very well. You can almost see his inner struggles in the performance.