Coverage:
by
Leah Bluntschli

"Radio" is not just another jock movie featuring great football action sequences, inspiring locker room speeches, a come from behind victory at the end and Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the starring role. This is a far cry from "Jerry Maguire." "Radio" is a movie about the relationship between Howard Jones, the head coach of Hanna High school football team, and Radio -- James Robert Kennedy, a shy, mentally-challenged kid with an affinity for radios (hence the nick-name). The film’s premise is about how one special person teaches those around him valuable lessons about life and about how people should treat each other. Gooding evidently prepared for the role by meeting the real Radio, whose life this movie is based upon. Add some fake bad teeth and voila! Gooding is actually believable in his cheerfully childlike manner, a quantum leap after "Snow Dogs" which put his ability as a quality actor in doubt. "Radio’s" main function is to tell a true story about the real values and rewards of caring for and reaching out to fellow human beings – which the filmmakers seemed to pull off based on the occasionally sniffling which could be heard throughout the theater. And as much as this critic wanted to be cynical, I couldn’t ignore the audience’s reaction, they laughed and cheered and applauding at the end of the movie. Howard Jones, played by the man’s man Ed Harris, takes Radio under his wing after noticing him hanging around the football field. At first, Radio seems timid and scared, probably because he spent most of his time wandering around by himself, being generally misunderstood and ignored by the rest of the town. He turns out to have a big, beautiful, good heart, and, with Howard Jones’ help, blossoms into a gregarious personality whom everyone learns to accept, love, and giggle with. Radio soon takes his place as a cherished treasure to the community (and he’s still there today). "Radio" is a moving and inspiring human drama.