There are scenes that in another movie might have
looked forced – the way the local boosters club congregate after every game in
the local barbershop to get the coach’s report and insult him. Doesn’t this
type of event happen in move small towns? Ebert noted, “Just like there's
always a diner filled with regulars who apparently sit there 24 hours a day
waiting to act as the local Greek chorus? Maybe, but by the end of
"Radio" I was half-convinced that if I were to visit Anderson, S.C.,
on the night of a high school game, I could walk downtown and see the boosters
right there through the barbershop window.”
“Radio,” released in 2003, is a movie based on a
Sports Illustrated article, written by Gary Smith, about the way a series of
Anderson teams and coaches have adopted James “Radio” Kennedy, a an with
special needs, as a team mascot and cheerleader. He is well-loved, and we see
he has a good heart and drive needed only when the right moment gives him that
time in life. The movie focuses in story form on Radio’s first season with the
team, and about the bond that is created between the teenager (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
and tough, no-nonsense Coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris).
When we first see Radio, he goes on his usual walks
through the town, pushing a shopping cart filled with radios and listening to
his favorite portable one. One day a few football players lock him in an equipment
shed and throw footballs at it, scaring him, and after Jones rescues Radio, he
makes it his mission to have Radio become involved in his school football team.
Jones’ wife Linda, played by Debra Winger, obviously
has the necessary scenes where he complains that he is always focused on his
job. His daughter Mary Helen Jones, played by Sarah Drew, obviously has the needed
scenes where she stays out too late and gives other signals that she needs more
of her father’s attention. Now here’s what we don’t see coming: Not much is
made in the needed way of these subplots, because Jones is a nice guy, and his
family understands him and the daughter kind of resolves her own issues.
Yes, there is somewhat of an antagonist. Johnny Clay
(Riley Smith) is the star player who automatically bullies Radio, maybe because
his dad Frank (Chris Mulkey) is also a bully (since Frank is the town banker,
and a hotshot in the hotshot in the booster club?). Frank thinks Radio is a “distraction”
to the team, but Radio is really liked, and Coach Jones is such a good soul
that even the bullies seem to be going through the plans just to be good people
and give the film some drama.
Ebert commented, “"Radio" is such a sweet
expression of the better side of human nature, indeed, that it's surprising to
find it in theaters and not on one of the more innocuous cable channels.” With
Gooding and Harris, it has the best people, and a screenplay by Mike Rich.
Director Mike Tollin tells his story as easy and forward as he can, with no
funny tricks, and what we get is just what we want, a story about a town that
welcomes a teenager with special needs for its benefit and his own. Radio
teaches the town, Jones says, by treating everyone the way we should all treat
each other. The teenager does not have the ability to be mean, nasty, or
dishonest.
The role is difficult for an actor. Ebert noted, “Gooding
wants to make Radio lovable without being grotesquely cute, and mostly he
succeeds, although Gooding is by instinct an expansive actor (the kind of man
you imagine underlines his signature), and maybe a calmer actor like Ice Cube
would have been a good choice. It was enough for Gooding to make me like Radio;
in a few scenes I think he wanted me to pet him. Ed Harris is well cast in a
role like Coach Jones, because he brings along confident masculine authority
without even having to think about it. The other actors are pretty much pro
forma.” Alfre Woodard plays the sincere high school principal, S. Epatha
Merkerson is convincing as Radio’s loving mom, and Debra Winger is strong in a
small role that, as Ebert describes, “makes me want to see her in a larger one.”
Now the if the movie’s story sounds too good to be
true, that’s probably what you’ll think. There is no sarcasm in “Radio,” no
angle or edge. It’s about what it’s about, with an open, warm and loving
nature. Every once in a while, human nature shows itself in a way we can feel
good about, and this is one of those times.
For families, for those who find most movies too sarcastic,
for those who want to feel good in a nice and uncomplicated way, “Radio” is the
one for you. Others may find it too slow or nice or innocent. You know what kind
of films you like.
This is another movie that I saw a little bit of on
one of the movie channels on cable before I found it On Demand and saw the
whole movie. This is another one of those emotional films that can be difficult
to watch because of seeing what Radio goes through, but it’s a feel good, slice
of life film that everyone should watch because they will love this. I really
liked it, and I think everyone will to. I recommend this film to everyone,
especially since the real Radio passed away two years ago. See it in his honor
and see what kind of a powerhouse this film is.
Thank you for joining in on “Special Needs Month.” I
hope everyone enjoyed it and wait a minute, next month is October. You know what
that means…. HALLOWEEN MONTH!!! Stay tuned to see what franchise I will be
looking at this year, which is a funny one that will bring about some laughter
during that month.