The Blind Side - B

In theaters. Rated PG-13, 128 minutes. Trailer.

The Blind Side is the feel-good movie of 2009. Which is to say, a towering cynic such as myself has a hard time watching it without throwing up, even though parts of it are quite good. Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw star as wealthy Tennessee private school parents that adopt a homeless black student (that had recently been admitted as a charity case) from the school. The plot is EXACTLY what you would guess it is based on that one sentence description, which makes it great/makes it terrible at the same time. Click below for more on BS:


Bullock gives a good but one-dimensional performance as the sassy domineering mother with a heart. Tim McGraw is (gulp) the best thing about the film, delivering multiple indulgent one-liners. Having said that, when his character quotes Tennyson I was reaching for the throw up bag. The black character in question is portrayed by newcomer Quinton Aaron through a series of distant looks and expected smiles.

The basic message of the film and the portrayal of the Christian family is great. They are successful, smart, Christian do-gooders with a sense of humor - a rare fair depiction of the backbone of America. Writer/Director and Longview native John Lee Hancock (A Perfect World, The Rookie) is a talented guy and is making a clear intentional choice to make a by-the-numbers film based on a true story (I won't ruin the most obvious story ever for a character named 'big Mike').

This is a movie for people that hate No Country For Old Men - boomer moms across the heartland are eating this up. Part of me gives the film a C- the other part gives it a B+. Take your mom.