42

"42" Review

Initial Thoughts

            Okay to be honest, I don't really enjoy sports movies - you know, those films that center around a sports team or particular player and their journeys throughout their career life. always meaning to be inspiring. For whatever reason, I find that story concept extremely irritating, and over dramatic. Just my personal taste, I guess.

 Story: 14 out of 20

            Right off the bat I'm going to tell you why the story got a lower score: the storyline has already been done. Pretty much every sports movie ever has exactly the same plot devices, and that's what really makes me dislike sports films more and more every time I see one. Give us something new! Or tell us the same story in a new way, with new situations in the given time period.

            That being said, it's still enjoyable to see the characters progress throughout the storyline and the tension and anger of racism is still there, good atmosphere also. However, as I said before, this has been done way too much and I am now just getting frustrated with it.

Characters: 20 out of 25

            Many of the characters have enough screen time to develop the characters that are in the movie. Not too many characters, and not too few; however, they do bring in minor characters right in the middle of a huge plot device, which draws away from the story a bit, but not enough for most audience members to notice.

            Fair characters, character development is definitely there, well done. New personalities and new character ideas would raise this section's score.

Message: 20 out of 25

            Now, let me be clear, I definitely think that it's important for us to remember the people who changed the world for the better, not only for sports, but for all areas in life. But when it comes to sports, I feel like the message has been worn out a bit, like the story, and like the characters. The message does get across the heartache of black people in the 1940s, and some characters add to that in the ways they interact with the main characters.

Acting Quality: 22 out of 25

            A lot of overacting in this movie, sometimes warranted, but sometimes during random conversations, which distracts the audience during those moments. But many overacting moments are reasonable, given the circumstances portrayed by the storyline.

            Some low whispering is hard to pick up, but besides that acting quality is pretty top notch. In short, the actors make you believe they are the characters they're playing.

So the Final Verdict for the film 42 is a

76/100

Good

Delivers a good message about the heartache many blacks had to go through during the 1940s (when the movie takes place); characters are okay, and the acting quality is good. What prevents this film from being any better is the lack of originality, and the lacking story, otherwise it would have gotten in the 80's for sure.

Nevertheless, it is much better than other sports films I have seen over the years, so go ahead and give it a watch when you've got the time.