42: Jackie Robinson's Hollywood Blockbuster

I picked up 42 at a Family Video clearance for $4 and I think that's about right. The movie follows Robinson, but also Branch Rickey, the man most responsible for Robinson being on the Dodger's. Rickey is portrayed by Harrison Ford, who I'm a fan of and I feel did a very good job. He's neither deified nor condemned as essentially a businessman who did not see any other color that mattered besides green. I think the historical aspect is lost, but there is a decent movie here. The baseball scenes are decent, but a little CGI heavy. Chadwick Boseman is very good as Robinson. The cast is largely unknown, but solid. I think it does a pretty vanilla job of telling the story of Robinson's first year in the bigs. It can't focus TOO much on the hardships, or his family life, or Rickey's behind the scenes struggles, so it touches on all three and satisfies you on none of them, but provides so facts and educates a little bit on all fronts. Bottom Line: 6.4 out of 10. Fairly bland, but not exactly a kid's film. Does a respectable job of telling parts of Robinson's story, though as I said before, with too many irons in the fire you really only get a glimpse into the struggles of the men involved.