Review of 42 (2013) by Derektripp — 14 Apr 2013

There can be a large gap between the ambition of a project and its execution. through history of art there have been marvelous flops, ideas and projects that were reaching out far beyond their grasp, attempting to achieve things they did not have the talent to achieve. There have been even more movies on the other end though, films that arn't trying to achieve anything that hasn't been done before, taking a well worn film tropes and formulas, and recreating it for success. The film 42 is undoubtedly a member of the latter.

The story tells one that has been told before, the story of Jackie Robinson, moving from the Negro leagues in baseball, to be the first black to play in the NBL. The story is a predictable one, whether you know the story or not, or can see precisely where the story will go and when. There are no scenes that are at all original, every scene has been done in one sports movie or another, though "42" does have the benefit of being closely based on a true story, a story which so happens to follow the classic inspirational formula so close.

Thebenefit that "42" has because it follows the formula so close, is that they have the story told for them. where "42" excels though, is that even though the story has been told before, none of the members of the cast or crew seem to be going through the motions. The people that are actually creating the film don't care that its a cliché story, they just want to show the inspirational story of Jackie Robinson. All the main actors are good in their roles, thought Harrison ford gravely voice and attitude go close to the cartoony side, it doesn't seem to matter when he seems so likable. Relative newcomer Chadwick Boseman as the films star, giving depth and layers to Jackie Robinson, showing him to be a character, instead of just a mcguffin, used only to allow African Americans to play in the NBL.

Overall. the movie is one that put more effort into it than it needed to. "42" could have been a bland story thats been told hundreds of times before.