42 - B

Rated PG-13, 125 minutes

Overlong but entertaining "42" an inspiring story of a hero

Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman

"42" tells a story many know but thus far has largely been untold on the big screen. Entertaining and uplifting, it's not a straight bio pic but the story of the first year of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who broke ground by being the first black in major league baseball. Though too long and preachy, the likable "42" has immense appeal for non-sports fans too. It tells the story of the great Robinson (newcomer Chadwick Boseman) and legendary Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), who took a chance by signing the gifted Robinson to the Dodgers at a time when race was still an issue to some. As we know from many sports films, particularly baseball films, the sport is usually the backdrop for the larger story it teaches us about life, in this case about race and equality. The well-acted and satisfying "42" is directed and written by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Brian Helgeland of "L.A. Confidential" and "Mystic River" fame, who handles the material skillfully enough to keep it from being maudlin or overstylized, and with a stellar production that evokes the time period well. Boseman, who played another real-life sports figure Floyd Little in 2008's "The Express," is the standout here in a low-key, stalwart turn, resembling the real Robinson's facial and body features. Ford is also good, though on occasion too gruff and taking the focus away from Robinson, with all due respect to Rickey's contributions to Robinson's career. Character actors John C. McGinley, Lucas Black, Hamish Linklater, and Dallas' own Alan Tudyk also make memorable impressions as some real life figures in this story; Tudyk is particularly strong in a small role as racist Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman, who almost gets the best of Robinson. The film isn't perfect: unsurprisingly, details were changed for cinematic license, it's a shade too long and is redundantly preachy (I'm also sure these folks didn't speak in the lofty platitudes they do here). Even with that, "42" is an above-average, decent entry in the sports movie genre as well as a genuinely moving, thoughtful historical piece on a true American hero. Definitely worth checking out.

Wes's Grade: B