A review by Arcanix
This film is about an affluent well-to-do white family adopting a destitute, stoic black teenager. I feel that the prominence of skin colour, in this particular narrative, is an unfortunate coincidence. I enjoyed the film more as a parable about the virtues of the Haves embracing the Have-Nots (notwithstanding my wariness of socialistic tendencies) than as a meditation on race relations. The black/white tale of redemption often comes saddled with the baggage of cheap saccharine sentimentality. Truth being stranger than fiction, the film is based on a true story.
Racial technicalities aside, I think the film is successful in that it is genuinely tender and moving while providing some well timed laughs along the way. A lot of the narrative is telegraphed so we’re left to absorb the performances on display. Sandra Bullock is the obvious candidate for scrutiny following her many award wins for the role. She is certainly excellent as the strong willed and compassionate Leigh Anne. Capable of divulging acute emotions with a quick glance Bullock dominates the film. Less successful but brilliantly cast is Quinton Aaron as the outcast, Big Mike. His default facial expression, ‘sad and defeated’, immediately garners sympathy, crucial to drawing the viewer into the story. However in scenes where he is required to do anything other than silently mope about, he struggles, temporarily breaking the illusion. The husband is woefully one dimensional and bafflingly accommodates every fancy of Bullock’s character with little to no objection. The precocious son, ‘SJ’, steals several scenes and provides most of the film’s laughs to good effect.
I was somewhat disappointed that certain pressing issues were avoided or under-developed. I feel the level of trust placed in Big Mike is often not justified enough and this problem is brought into focus when Big Mike screws up with little disapproval shown by his new parents. The other reservation I have is summed up by the football coach who says: (paraphrased) “Other inner city kids have a lot of rage which immediately comes out on the pitch”. The film would have the viewer believe that more kids should be ‘adopted’ in the fashion. I highly doubt that there are many stray urchins with the placid, morally virtuous tendencies of Big Mike. In a sense the story is a little too perfect and devoid of any sort of real redemption. Despite its real life roots I enjoyed the film as a Hollywood fairytale with a big heart and a few brains on the side.