'The Express' review

Dennis Quaid (Credit: Chuck Hodes/Universal)

Photos:

On his way to becoming the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, Syracuse University running back Ernie “The Express” Davis (Rob Brown) endures racist fans and opponents, his encouraging but questionably tolerant coach Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), and the typical jerky linebacker. Davis also befriends another black player (Omar Benson Miller) and starts a relationship with one of the few black coeds (Nicole Beharie) in sight. Still, the movie pays little attention to anyone but Davis and his coach.

The buzz: Quaid’s (“Breaking Away,” “Any Given Sunday,” “The Rookie”) no newcomer to sports movies, and anyone who knows the full Davis saga knows there’s more to it than just his awards. (Assuming you're not familiar with his life story, we'd be ruining the film's end if we told you.) The question is if “The Express” can differentiate itself from other racially driven sports flicks like “Glory Road,” “Pride” and “Remember the Titans.”

The verdict: Call it first-time déjà vu: This movie won’t make you feel much, because you’ve already felt it the same way, in the same manner from other stories that got there first with more charisma. “Express” offers the requisite dose of rah-rah gridiron crunch, Quaid makes a good hardass and it’s worth remembering those who helped break down various barriers on the field and off. But Brown doesn’t turn Davis into a particularly compelling figure, and the film rarely pauses to capture a shred of doubt about the big game or serious threats from violent fans in West Virginia or Texas--as if it’s only a movie and we shouldn’t worry too much about these real-life obstacles.

Did you know? Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown (Darrin Dewitt Henson), Davis’ predecessor at Syracuse, claims that Native Americans used lacrosse to settle conflicts and heal the sick. It’s worth a shot, but we still recommend going to, you know, a doctor.

Add a comment