Radio

Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris
Directed by: Michael Tollin
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
2003

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: The football coach (Ed Harris) at a high school adopts a kind but mentally challenged man, nicknamed Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.) The two form an unlikely bond, but that friendship is challenged when certain community members feel Radio is having an adverse affect on the school and the concentration of the team.

Review:

Tim: I am so unbelievably mad that I like this movie. When I saw the previews with Cuba Gooding Jr. with big, fake teeth and a stupid look on his face, I thought to myself, "This must indeed mark the end of this man's career." I saw this movie against my will, and I have to say, its very good.

The film actually benefits from the cast. Ed Harris is suprisingly realistic as a football coach. He is very convincing, and reminded me a little of coaches I had in high school.

The real star of the film (I hate saying this) is Cuba Gooding Jr. In a performance similar to Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, Gooding Jr. is very good as the mentally challenged Radio. I should mention that his performance comes no where near to Hanks' Oscar-winning one, however. Now, although I give Gooding Jr. Accolades for his performance, I also want to state that he looks absolutely ridiculous throughout the film.

In many ways, this movie reflects Remember the Titans, although Denzel Washington is a better football coach than Harris ever will be. It resembles that film in that it is a high school football movie, but its also much more.

I really liked two scenes in the movie and think they deserve mention. The first is the scene in the rain where Radio is playing football at the same time the team is playing. This is a powerful scene, and central to the lesson of the movie. The second is the ending of the movie, where it shows the real "Radio." I thought it was especially touching and a fitting way to end the film.

The scene I hated was Harris' two second dance scene. He looks awkward and awful. Harris is excellent at threatening to blow up the California coast (as in The Rock) but the guy can clearly not dance. Cuba is actually pretty funny during this scene, however.

In the end, Radio is much better than I'd hoped it would be. It is worth seeing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
Remember the Titans, Forrest Gump, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Rock, Rain Man