The Blind Side

I still haven't seen New Moon, I'm kind of proud of that fact because it minimizes my twi-hard appearance significantly. I am not trying to be a twi-hard, so I'm looking for a way to appear as non twi-hard as possible after the New Moon red carpet premiere.

SO, this weekend I went to the $4.50 matinee with Josie to watch The Blind Side. The movie scored a 74% on the tomameter. This doesn't sound like a high enough rating to spend money on in this frugal economy, but I really enjoyed the movie and am quite satisfied with my decision to watch it this weekend.

The movie was really good. I teared up, and I know many others who did as well. The main character, Michael Oher, has a story that makes you love him. He has been tossed around or passed off most his life, leaving him somewhat illiterate and in high school. By luck, luck driven by selfish ulterior motives, Michael is admitted to a Christian school where he sticks out like a fly in milk. The football coach sees him when he is brought along to the school by a man hoping to get his son enrolled, and immediately the coach wants Big Mike for the football team, so he convinces the board that it is their "Christian duty" to admit him and give him a chance for an education that the system has failed to provide him with. The coach is disappointed when Michael goes out for football and sucks due to lack of any training in the sport. But, with the right help, Michael can be an incredible player.

The Touhy's adopt Michael into their family after inviting him over for one night when they realize he has no home, and inviting him to stay because they begin to love him like family. With the help of the Touhy's, Michael discovers his potentials academically as well as athletically, and is being recruited by some big NCAA teams in the south.

It is a true story, so no matter how cliche aspects of the plot might be, that's because humans are often easy to predict and the story should not be faulted for that. That being said, I really enjoyed the hardcore Christian Republican backdrop because it wasn't repulsive as it often is portrayed in media. This southern family seems a lot more atypical than I expected yet the characters do still embrace the cliche stereotypes--football loving, God loving, wealthy white family consisting of a dad (who played college ball at Ole Miss), mom (former cheerleader), daughter (cheerleader) and son (a great athlete); that just all screams American cliche, but I liked them all none the less. I especially loved the apparent hatred toward Tennessee. I have had a strong distaste for this school/team since 2000 when a high school teacher thrust his love for the Volunteers onto his class and referred to us as his "Volunteers." Bleh, the memories make me nauseous.

I digress. To conclude, The Blind Side is a really great story that gives you hope. As a true story, it brings out a selfless and loving side of humans you rarely see. I loved the Touhy family, especially the mom, who was driven by a strong desire to truly help someone. Not just for selfish gain or appearance, but because she knew she had the resources and therefore no excuse not to do everything she can to give this young man a life he desreves.