(PG) *** Director: John Lee Hancock. Cast: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Jae Head, Lily Collins. THE key word for this film is "good" - it's a feel-good story about a remarkable good deed that coasts along on its sheer goodwill and little else. And it's quite good. Bullock won an Oscar for her turn here as Leigh Anne Tuohy, an affluent former cheerleader who has it all - a career, two great kids (Head and Collins), a loving husband (country singer McGraw), a small fortune, and a McMansion on the rich side of Memphis. Then, seemingly on a whim, she invites into her home Michael Oher (Aaron), a struggling homeless African-American student that lucked into the same school as her children thanks to the fact he is built like a brick out-house and therefore ideal for the school's gridiron team. What follows is a nice-as-pie story that lacks any real tension or drama and threatens repeatedly to veer into sappy territory, yet somehow, just through foolhardy "goodness", manages to be consistently enjoyable (if a little slight) for its two hours. If it wasn't a true story, you'd think it was whipped up in some Christian fantasy, but thankfully the film doesn't shirk the undertones of racism and even "white guilt". Equally thankfully, it doesn't go overboard with these themes either, choosing to stay in its happy place for much of the running time. Bullock gives a restrained performance in a role that other actresses might have taken over the top. Her presence throughout is one of quiet determination, played as much for laughs as pathos, and definitely anchors the film. The biggest revelation though is Aaron, whose utterly believable turn runs from taciturn loner to dedicated family man in gentle fashion, his gradual awakening providing the heart of The Blind Side. While it drifts off into sports movie territory for a bit too long and the lack of any major conflict means the film just washes over you, it's hard to knock this tale of do-gooders doing good for fundamentally good people who haven't had things so good. Did I mention that it's good?
THE key word for this film is "good" - it's a feel-good story about a remarkable good deed that coasts along on its sheer goodwill and little else.
And it's quite good.
Bullock won an Oscar for her turn here as Leigh Anne Tuohy, an affluent former cheerleader who has it all - a career, two great kids (Head and Collins), a loving husband (country singer McGraw), a small fortune, and a McMansion on the rich side of Memphis.
Then, seemingly on a whim, she invites into her home Michael Oher (Aaron), a struggling homeless African-American student that lucked into the same school as her children thanks to the fact he is built like a brick out-house and therefore ideal for the school's gridiron team.
What follows is a nice-as-pie story that lacks any real tension or drama and threatens repeatedly to veer into sappy territory, yet somehow, just through foolhardy "goodness", manages to be consistently enjoyable (if a little slight) for its two hours.
If it wasn't a true story, you'd think it was whipped up in some Christian fantasy, but thankfully the film doesn't shirk the undertones of racism and even "white guilt". Equally thankfully, it doesn't go overboard with these themes either, choosing to stay in its happy place for much of the running time.
Bullock gives a restrained performance in a role that other actresses might have taken over the top. Her presence throughout is one of quiet determination, played as much for laughs as pathos, and definitely anchors the film.
The biggest revelation though is Aaron, whose utterly believable turn runs from taciturn loner to dedicated family man in gentle fashion, his gradual awakening providing the heart of The Blind Side.
While it drifts off into sports movie territory for a bit too long and the lack of any major conflict means the film just washes over you, it's hard to knock this tale of do-gooders doing good for fundamentally good people who haven't had things so good. Did I mention that it's good?
