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Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris, Alfre Woodard, S. Epatha Merkerson, Brent Sexton ... see more see more... , Chris Mulkey , Sarah Drew , Riley Smith , Patrick Breen , Debra Winger , Harold W. Jones , Mike Anthony , James Gooden , Rebecca Koon , Tammy Christine Arnold , Mark Robert Ellis , Michael Flippo , Therond Justin Adams , Evan Aldrich , Joseph E.G. Barrett , Bert Beatson , Kenneth H. Callender , Megan Coffman , Othello Coleman III , Rev. Eugene Cryer Jr. , Charles Garren , Michael Harding , James Robert "Radio" Kennedy , Michael Kroeker , William E. Lykes , Dorothy McDowell , Deborah McTeer , Jamie Murdaugh , Ty O'Farrell , Benjamin L. Peters Jr. , Kasheem J. Peterson , Kate Powell , Shelley Reid , Bill Roberson , Hi Bedford Roberson , Leonard Wheeler , James Barrett

Hollywood filmmaker Michael Tollin directs the sports drama Radio, based on a true story and adapted for the screen by Mike Rich (The Rookie). Set in a small South Carolina town during the '60s, the f... read more read more...ilm stars Ed Harris as Harold Jones, a high school football coach who barely has time to spend with his daughter, Mary Helen (Sarah Drew), or his wife, Linda (Debra Winger). When Coach Jones meets the mentally challenged student who goes by the name of Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.), he allows him to help out with his football team. While the townsfolk just aren't sure about Radio hanging around the team, the star player Johnny Clay (Riley Smith) is downright mean about it. Nevertheless, Radio continues to support the team for the next three decades. Also starring Alfre Woodard as the principal. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

153,371 ratings

Critics

36% liked it

116 critics

PG, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Michael Tollin, Alfre Woodard, Mike Tollin, Bert Beatson, Chris Mulkey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Debra Winger, Ed Harris, James Barrett, Joseph E.G. Barrett, Riley Smith, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sarah Drew

Release Date: October 24, 2003

Keywords: touching, sports

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DVD Release Date: January 27, 2004

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Stats: 6,861 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,861)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    December 4, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Radio is yet another in a long list of feel good movies. But I believe that this is the best feel good movie since October Sky. Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris deliver strong performances here. Cuba Gooding Jr. portrays Robert "Radio" Kennedy a young man with mental problems, and ... read moreEd Harris portrays Coach Jones, the coach of the local High School who befriends Radio after Jones's team terrorizes him. Radio At first doesn't open up, but after a while he warms up to Coach Jones. However this friendship is hard because of the obvious mental issues that Radio has. Radio is said to be a distraction by many of the parents, and teachers. However Coach Jones ignores this, and defies what some parents say, and he builds a strong friendship with Radio. The film has all the usual feel good traits of a feel good movie, and is the type of film that you can watch with the entire family and enjoy it for what it is. A very moving stoiry, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris performances are believable enough and the rest of the cast do a good job acting alongside Harris and Gooding Jr. Radio mixes elements of a feel good film with sports drama, and theres nothing here that you can't hate. The film is not perfect of course, I mean it's a film we've seen a hundred times before, but Radio is still a good enough film to provide you with two hours of good family entertainment. Radio is a powerful film about what it truly means to be human, and how some situations can bring out the best out of people. A well done film that is a must see, not the best ever made, but definitely a film to watch and make you feel good.
  • yona71
    October 14, 2009
    yona71
    This is quite a powerful film.
    Cuba Gooding Jr. turns in a brilliant performance as the mentally challenged loner James Robert Kennedy nicknamed "Radio" due to his vintage radio collection in which one is always in his hand playing music he loves, and gives a "score" to his lone... read morely existence of pushing a grocery cart up and down the streets of a South Carolina town.
    Ed Harris is brilliant as usual as the town's popular high school football team coach who takes an interest in Radio upon seeing him watching a practice session. His friendship and concern for Radio develops into something that means much more than football to the very well respected coach, Harold Jones.
    Jones allows Radio to be part of the team's practices and games on the sidelines, and sit in on his classes in school which opens up a whole new world for James(Radio), and essentially gives him a life that he is in dire need of.
  • LWOODS04
    August 30, 2009
    LWOODS04
    This movie is based on a true story and that makes it even more amazing. I loved this movie. It was funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking too. This has to be my favorite movie with Cuba Gooding Jr. He did such an amazing job, his best work yet. This movie gives a lot to learn fr... read moreom. How we should and shouldn't treat others, how to be compassionate for other human beings, and just to help others in their time of need. The coach was inspiring. Great movie and a great story. Definitely touches the heart.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    June 12, 2009
    LoughnerWasLucid
    Cuba Goodings pretty good at playing a retarded guy, but Dane Crooks been doin it for way too long!!
  • jlewis07
    April 12, 2009
    jlewis07
    A little too melodramatic, but a decent movie with good performances.
  • FilmFanatik
    September 23, 2008
    FilmFanatik
    A very touching story.
  • FireStormStudios
    April 28, 2008
    FireStormStudios
    I really liked this one. Good performances by all.
  • barrys
    March 16, 2007
    barrys
    This movie is great. So touching and emotive. Maybe one of the best sports movies I ever seen. The performance of Cuba Gooding Jr is excellent, and Ed Harris role is very good also
  • ceWEBrity
    January 21, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    The most treacly, awful, stomach-churning piece of dreck I've ever paid money to see. Good Lord. I am truly ashamed that someone created a movie so obviously manipulative and actually suscepted unsuspecting audiences across America to it. I'm so ashamed at the film-going public f... read moreor actually patronizing a formulaic, dull, poorly-written movie like this one.

    And the director did Good Burger too. Seriously, why does this man get work?
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Pretty good.

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Critic Reviews

Ed Park
October 28, 2003
Ed Park, Village Voice

Based-on- a-true-story kitschfest. Full Review

Richard Roeper
October 27, 2003
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

[Y]et another movie that takes a mentally challenged character and turns him into this kind of deity, this saint-like mascot who everybody else learns life lessons from. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
October 24, 2003
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Gooding once again embarrasses himself in public with a performance that knows no shame, a habit he's getting frighteningly at ease with these days.

Philip Kennicott
October 24, 2003
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post

A train wreck of a film lying inert where the tracks of the Feel Good Line cross the Path of Good Intentions.

Claudia Puig
October 24, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Though probably well-intentioned, Radio comes off as manipulative of its audience and exploitative of the mentally challenged. Full Review

Peter Howell
October 24, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Rarely have good intentions been wrapped in such a sticky package. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
October 24, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Cuba Gooding Jr. falls victim to the Nell syndrome, in which a vibrant, loquacious actor decides that the road to an Oscar nomination is to wear a slack expression and a set of Nutty Professor teeth. Full Review

Joe Baltake
October 24, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

It's bad enough that the film's unimaginative narrative can barely hold our attention, but we have the added distraction of seeing the estimable Harris, Winger and Woodard frittering away their talent... Full Review

Jay Boyar
October 24, 2003
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

It's still a tear-jerker, but it doesn't make you feel like a jerk for tearing up. Full Review

Bob Campbell
October 24, 2003
Bob Campbell, Newark Star-Ledger

The game plan is Inspiration or Death. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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