Cuba Gooding Jr. is finally reminding us how he won that Oscar. Here, he plays mentally challenged James Robert Kennedy (nicknamed Radio for his love of music and vintage radios), who, after being tormented by some jocks, is befriended by the coach of the high school football team (Ed Harris). He attends school, helps out at practice and eventually wins over the small-minded townsfolk.
Radio's got plenty of right moves, and builds a credible relationship between Harris and Gooding Jr. Unfortunately, this tale is forced into a heartwarming sports-film structure where everything happens in one year, the bad vibes are encapsulated into a few characters, and the wrap-up is a little too tidy. Nonetheless, by the time a montage about the real Radio (still the team's biggest cheerleader after 40 years) rolls, even the most cynical viewer will get a little choked up.