Radio

Radio is the kind of pandering, feel-good "true story" in which everyone speaks in momentous anecdotes, fictional characters contrived solely for conflict stand out like circus clowns at a funeral, and the star-jock bully picks on the hero and (gasp!) gets benched for it (the jock's callous father subsequently reviles the coach for not agreeing that boys will be boys and winning is everything). There are literally scores of such clichés in this predictable story of a mentally challenged young man (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) in small-town South Carolina, who in 1976 was taken under the wing of a high school football coach (Ed Harris) and grew into a valuable member of the sideline crew and a local celebrity. In spite of all this triteness, the movie isn't all that bad--Gooding convincingly affects his shy, snaggle-toothed character's Rain Man-like mannerisms with a dignity and deference, and director Michael Tollin (Summer Catch) does tug a few true heartstrings--but it certainly is bland. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Mike Tollin, the 21-minute “making of” featurette “Tuning In,” the 12-minute featurette “Writing Radio,” a nine-minute featurette on “The 12-Hour Football Games of Radio,” six deleted scenes with optional director commentary, cast and crew filmographies, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras set for a very earnest biopic.] (R. Blackwelder)