Product Description: Football coach Harold Jones (Harris) befriends Radio (Gooding), a mentally-challenged man who becomes a student at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson, South Carolina. Their friendship extends over several decades, where Radio transforms from a shy, tormented man into an inspiration to his community.
Amazon.com: Since winning an Academy Award for his exuberant performance in Jerry Maguire, Cuba Gooding Jr. has gotten little but static from critics for a spate of calamitous career choices not seen since '80s-vintage Burt Reynolds. But he triumphantly returns to Oscar-worthy status with his moving performance as Radio, a mentally challenged young man, whom South Carolina high school football coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) takes under his nurturing wing. This does not play well with the school's patient but questioning principal (Alfre Woodard); the school's biggest athletic booster, who views Radio as a distraction; the man's son, the team's star player, who plays cruel pranks on the trusting Radio; and the Coach's teenage daughter, who feels neglected. Almost all will be won over by Radio's trusting and good nature. Based on a Sports Illustrated story, Radio was adapted for the screen by Mike Rich, screenwriter of The Rookie, and as in that superior family film, the heroics are mostly off the field. As Coach says, with all the subtlety of a blitz, "We're not the ones been teaching Radio; he's the one been teaching us." The ending, in which we see the actual Radio, still cheering his team on 26 years later, will melt the most cynical hearts. --Donald Liebenson
No Multiple Stars Here Being the parent of an autistic child and volunteering in a disability ministry, I must confess that I was disappointed by the portrayals in this film. Radio is unrealistic. He can do no wrong. When he does wrong, someone put him up to it. It's hard to believe that he comes out of his shell and starts talking so fluently so quickly. I personally know people of varying degrees and types of disability, and they have bad sides. Based on Radio's portrayed developmental level, they would poke through more clearly. People like this need to be trained out of those behaviors, or they will become nuisances to themselves and society. The principal of the school looks and acts like she is straight out of the 2000s. The coach's daughter was a flat character who was a little whiny. It is hard to believe that the students who once persecuted him would turn so nonchalantly into his adoring allies. Additionally, wasn't there a law by 1976 that said special education was a mandatory offering in the public schools? Why wasn't he in school before? Also, it is unclear exactly how Radio helps the team. The team only goes .500. There is no sense of triumph or overcoming adversity to achieve greatness like there was in the great "Remember the Titans." I believe the film set out to be like "Titans,"(which I heartily recommend instead) but it seems like a low budget effort with blunders here there and everywhere. I suggest "Rain Man" also.
Radio was faking it First, let me say that I loved the movie. It's incredibly touching in many ways, and there are several reviews on Amazon that detail the movie. On the other hand, I think Radio was probably faking it.
Who wouldn't like to be the Big Man on Campus for the rest of their life? Kid 1: "Whos that?" Kid 2: "Dude, c'mon! How lame are you? You dont friggin' know Radio?!"
It would be a constant walk through the hallways, getting shout-outs, high-fives, and all sorts of attention.
Who wouldn't kill for the chance to appear to be the smartest kid in class year after year after year?
History: What year did Napolean gain back his country after being exiled to Elba? *Radio rudely yells out, "1815!!" without raising his hand English: Name a town in Scotland that happens to be a palindrome. *Radio shouts out, yet again, "GLENELG!" Math: Whats the smallest natural number whose name uses the five vowels a, e, i, o, u in any order? *Radio interrupts the math nerd in the front of class, "One thousand five." Meanwhile, nearly every kid that wants to learn something in class hates Radio because they cant be totally sure if he has had the wrong answer for the past 20 years. On top of that, they can't be sure if the teacher is worried about correcting the beloved Radio, and, therefore, worried about losing his or her job.
Who wouldn't like to be the assistant coach of a football team, with absolutely no limits or restrictions? The guy gets to run on field during timeouts and breaks, run his own plays, yell at the players, cheer with the cheerleaders, and just basically run rampant. He gets cheered on by thousands every Friday night. You know he gets in the games for free. And if you think he doesn't get free hot dogs and soft drinks at the concession stand, you're fooling yourself.
Who wouldn't enjoy free school lunches for eternity? Each year he surely gets to choose his favorite foods, picking and choosing what gets scratched from the list of foods available to the student body. It's getting to experience the age-old question: If you could have only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Who wouldn't want to play DJ on a daily basis over the schools PA system? He gets to make the announcements every morning, surely throwing in a little flavor from time to time. Inside jokes, blowing into the mic., calling out the names of buddies, making obscene comments (because people assume he doesn't know better), the possibilities are endless.
Who wouldn't want to stay in 11th grade, without ever progressing, ever worrying about obtaining the credits required for graduation? And imagine if he ever did decide to move on! He's got valedictorian and every other award wrapped up!
And to top it all off, who else gets to carry a radio around school? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Radio DVD Extremely well acted and written, with a great story line. Cuba Gooding Jr. does an exceptional job. Worth buying and watching several times.
Rave reviews for Radio Wonderful movie; excellent story. This movie is based on a true story and Cuba Gooding, Jr. does a great job of providing a funny and emotional depiction of "Radio."
A Tribute To Compassion This is a wonderful movie that demonstrates how one person's compassion for a "misfit in society" was able to transform, not only the life of Radio, but also the heart and soul of an entire community.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
