Movie 29: The Blind Side

Based, sometimes loosely, on a true story. Michael is a big guy down on his luck. In and out of foster care because his mom is a crack head, he’s somewhat let down by the school system as they tend to just pass him down the line. He’s not the sharpest nail in the bucket, but he isn’t as dumb as people think. One night, Big Mike who is essentially homeless is walking to the school gym because its warm when Leigh Anne Tuohy takes him home. And ends up keeping him. The story is basically of Big Mike joining the Tuohy family, finding his place on the football field and getting a leg up.

So far so movie of the week. And this is barely more than a TV movie. In fact if it wasn’t for the fact that this is more or less a true story it wouldn’t even be believable. Why the hell Leigh Anne decided to take in this giant black kid she didn’t know from you or I is anyone’s guess. And its kind of a shame that someone just doing something incredibly nice is so hard to believe, but that’s the world.

Big Mike is quite, very well mannered and generally a bit baffled. Or seems to be as there is quite a lot going on in that big noggin. He’s played well by Quinton Aaron, though sometimes the roll is just having expressive eyes and shutting the hell up. The big liberty they take with the story is that apparently he had played football before the events of the movie and he wasn’t such a big softy on the field, but the liberty taken for story purposes is understandable.

I ranted about how much I hate Sandra Bullock in general when I reviewed Movie 9: The Proposal. Not even done one month and I’ve seen two of her movies. There’s been a lot of talk about her amazing work here and about getting an Oscar. I don’t see where all that is coming from. She’s does decent work yes. She seems like a human being, all be it one who doesn’t show much emotion. And a lot of the character is the same kind of stuff that she always plays. Good yes, but nothing that made me amazed at any moment. I kept waiting for that one great scene, but it never appears.

Jae Head as the precocious, and I mean that in a good way this time, wee brother is fun though. None of that annoying kid malarkey. And everyone else, including Kathy Bates in one of her nice but tough roles, is good too. But it is just an uplifting TV movie. Plenty of heart warming inspirational bits, lots of laughs, a kind of glossed over feeling as they cram a story in to 2 hours, and that’s it. Sure, a later on TV movie as there some swears and adult themes, but this could still have been “The Blind Side : The Story of Michael Oher” and you wouldn’t see much difference.

Oh and there’s some good FOOTBALL too, but not loads for those of you that don’t like it. If you do then go watch Varsity Blues instead cause that film rules.