Jackie Robinson biopic a solid base hit

42 is pretty much a textbook example of a feel-good sports movie.

Telling the story of Jackie Robinson and the fight to integrate baseball, the film has a lot of powerful history to work with. Thankfully, 42 doesn’t waste it, and although it’s not anything revelatory, it’s certainly a good movie.

The film’s story centers on two men, Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), the first black baseball player to play in the Major Leagues in the modern era, and Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), the eccentric owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers who made it his mission to break baseball’s color line.

Rickey extends Robinson an offer to join the Brooklyn Dodgers organization with one key condition: Robinson must promise not to fight back against the abuse that will inevitably be heaped upon him. The hot-tempered Robinson accepts the deal and begins the struggle to make the team amidst fierce resistance, both inside and outside the Dodgers.

Aside from the iconic true story it’s based on, the best thing 42 has going for it is its acting.

While Boseman does a fine job in the starring role, the most impressive performances come from those in the supporting cast.

Ford is excellent as Branch Rickey, and while he doesn’t always hit the mark, there are a number of scenes where he steals the show. Still, while Ford is certainly good, some of the most effective acting here comes from actors in smaller roles, specifically Christopher Meloni, Alan Tudyk and Nicole Beharie.

Meloni’s turn as pugnacious Dodgers General Manager Leo Durocher and Tudyk’s performance as racist Phillies General Manager Ben Chapman really invigorate the movie. Beharie’s portrayal of Robinson’s wife, Rachel Isum Robinson, is more low key, but she imbues it with a depth and complexity that is powerful in its own right, in a role that could have been just another pretty face.

The reason why these performances stand out is also the root of 42’s greatest flaw.

Playing Robinson and Rickey, Boseman and Ford are given the difficult task of portraying icons, and the movie take a pretty safe route with them both.

Robinson’s portrayal suffers the most from this, as, although Boseman plays him with plenty of range, it often seemed as if the movie was corralling him in.

This is less of a problem for Rickey, but here, too, I felt the action in a number of scenes felt a bit too controlled.

By contrast, the reason why Tudyk, Meloni and Beharie’s performances stand out is because they feel less constrained.

When 42 allows itself a break from hagiography, it becomes a lot stronger movie, but for much of the film, it is unwilling to do so.

I’m not saying Jackie Robinson isn’t a hero and he doesn’t deserve a respectful biopic. He is, and he does. I just found myself wanting a little less blatant choreography and a willingness to explore more sides of Robinson and the people around him.

I also wanted more baseball.

The baseball scenes in 42 are quite good, but I think the movie could have used more of them. While the film rightly focuses on the substantial drama that occurred off the field, it’s still a baseball movie, and I think it would have benefited from showing more of the game Robinson fought hard to play.

There are also two scenes with little children that are beyond saccharine. I am an unapologetically sentimental person, but these scenes were just way too cloying.

Still, 42 is an engaging and entertaining film which, above all else, is a testament to the sheer power of Robinson’s story.

Jackie Robinson did something truly heroic when he broke baseball’s color barrier, and seeing that story told onscreen is sure to move all but the most jaded of audiences, even if the film pretty consistently plays it safe.

So, if you’re in the mood to see an inspirational sports film, as well as some good acting, go see 42. It may not be a home run, but it sure is a solid base hit.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on April 18, 2013. Filed under Arts and Entertainment,Columns,Movie Reviews,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry