Radio is a film based on the true story of James Robert “Radio” Kennedy. Most people probably were not familiar with the ‘true story’ that was originally related in a Sports Illustrated article a few years ago. This isn’t the story of an Olympic Athlete or about the man who made an incredible discovery.

In fact, there isn’t a particularly compelling reason why RADIO should have been made—except that it is about a special person who changed many lives in a typical small town community (in this case Anderson, South Carolina circa 1976).

That usually wouldn’t be enough to base even a television movie on, let along a major motion picture that stars people like Ed Harris and the seldom seen Debra Winger. We also get Cuba Gooding who despite winning an Oscar in Jerry Maguire and remaining a very likeable charismatic actor rarely appears in a film worth taking the time to watch.

The film isn’t important with a capital I. It is just the unassuming, uplifting story about Coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) deciding there’s more to life then leading the Hanna High School Yellow Jackets football team into the state championships. Coach Jones first notices “Radio” (Gooding) when he picks up a football that lands in the street and puts it into his shopping cart. The young man is retarded and pushes around the shopping cart all day long while his mother works double shifts as a nurse at the hospital.

One day the football team harasses the retarded man by taping his hands and legs together, throwing him into the equipment shed and tossing footballs at the shed.

Coach Jones is horrified the star of his team and some of his friends have done such an inhumane thing. He slowly gets to know about the retarded man who barely talks and never seems to bother or harm anyone. Eventually, Coach Jones names him ‘Radio’ because he loves radio and 70s R&B and invites him to come to the football practices. He becomes a regular on the Hannah High football field and Radio seems to be as important to Jones as his wife, Linda (Debra Winger) and 16 year old daughter Mary Helen (Sarah Drew). This leads to some problems.

Then the football team barely has a .500 season, and the townspeople, led by local banker Frank (Chris Mulkey), wonder if Coach Jones is spending too much time with Radio and not concentrating enough on football. Matters are further complicated when the school board begins looking into the matter. Frank’s motivation is undoubtedly partially due to prejudice, but this is barely explored in the film, which means we aren’t dealing with a tale of racial bigotry, but a different kind of bias with this film. That’s something we don’t see everyday and the film is better for the way it handles this.

‘Radio’ isn’t the kind of the film where we get a big scene involving the retarded character saving the game by kicking the winning field goal. The character here is simply an assistant coach.

Sound like a well-meaning, overly-safe, pretty dull film to you? It shouldn’t.

Ed Harris’ performance alone insures the film is very much worth seeing. His performance isn’t the kind that calls a lot of attention to itself or wins Oscar, but it’s the kind of performance that I wish a lot more people would notice. The scene where he tells his daughter a secret from his past is a memorable one, well written and brilliantly acted.

Yes, Cuba Gooding has the ‘money part’. He also plays it with restraint and grace and turns in an excellent performance. Quite frankly however, I think any half-way decent actor properly guided can do a good job playing a mentally retarded character. The audience is already poised and ready to feel some sympathy and like the character. Cuba does a lot of little things with the part and refuses to over-play things. Sure you’ll feel like giving him a hug, but you won’t fell like the actor will excitedly lick your face if given the chance.

Debra Winger doesn’t have a particularly juicy role as the Coach’s wife, but she is solid in her performance and it’s good to see her working again (don’t miss BIG BAD LOVE from a couple of years ago). Alfre Woodard is perfectly cast as the high school principal and as usual does a wonderful job with the role. Chris Mulkey is restrained and believable as the banker who creates problems for the Coach and the school because he aggressively wants his son to get all the advantages and be a winner. Did I mention Ed Harris’ performance is so spot on you’ll swear you can smell the kind of after-shave he is wearing when he goes to work in the morning?

Radio is a small slight movie that doesn’t have sharp edges, or cynicism and doesn’t condescend to the audience or manufacture overly sweet moments to win audience hearts. It doesn’t have a unique and important enough message to interest television executives and there isn’t enough arcs in the film to allow for perfect commercial break moments. It’s just a solid well-made film.

You should not have huge expectations when you see this film because it's not the kind of film that plays hard to the audience or hypes up dramatic moments for the benefit of creating someone’s idea of movie magic.

This movie’s magic is in the little details and in the performances of everyone involved. It isn’t full of surprises, but you’ll be moved and feel a real compassion for the characters involved. It’s a rewarding film that the whole family will enjoy watching and plays better on the television than it did on the big screen.

DVD STUFF:

The DVD features several special features including an informative but very dry audio commentary from director/co-producer Mike Tollin, who talks in detail about the making of the film and the locations. There is a standard making of Radio featurette which features footage of the real life Radio and Coach Jones—they should have made at least mini-documentary of them for the DVD. Gary Smith who wrote the original Sports Illustrated article that inspired the film discusses with screenwriter Mike Rich about how the movie and real life differs. The 10 minute feature: The 12-Hour Football Games of Radio" focuses on how real life football players were used in the films game sequences. The 6 deleted scenes included on the DVD are for the most part brief and forgettable.

It is certainly worth a rental and viewing on a family night.

Rating 3 1/2 stars.

Radio

Directed by Mike Tollin
Written by Mike Rich

Stars: Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris,Debra Winger,Alfre Woodard, S. Epatha Merkerson,Riley Smith,Sarah Drew
Columbia Pictures; 109 minutes; Rated PG (mild language).


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8