Critic Reviews

Radio (2003) Rank 2 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give Radio (2003) a score of 2.3506 out of 4
based on (200) reviews
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Reviews by Score:
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
The subtlety that’s missing from the filmmaking can still be found in the honest, affecting portrayals by both Harris and Gooding. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Times (Kevin Thomas)Los Angeles Times (Kevin Thomas)
A gentle film yet develops increasing dramatic tension beneath its easygoing, fair-minded surface. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kevin Thomas)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Film Threat (Rick Kisonak)Film Threat (Rick Kisonak)
Radio is a film many people may be tempted to laugh off as button pushing feel-good fluff. Before doing so, they might want to ask themselves just what it is they find so funny about a little peace, love and understanding. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Film Threat (Rick Kisonak)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Orlando Sentinel (Jay Boyar)Orlando Sentinel (Jay Boyar)
It's still a tear-jerker, but it doesn't make you feel like a jerk for tearing up. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Jay Boyar)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Lee's Movie Info (Gareth J. Von Kallenbach)Lee's Movie Info (Gareth J. Von Kallenbach)
While “Radio” is at times overly sentimental, the fine work by Harris and the Oscar worthy performance of Gooding JR. make the film well worth seeing ...read the complete Radio movie review at Lee's Movie Info (Gareth J. Von Kallenbach)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)
For some, the fine performances, combined with upbeat themes, will make Radio worth watching. But as a film, Radio manipulates more than it illuminates. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.32 out of 4 stars for Entertainment Weekly (Lisa Schwarzbaum)Entertainment Weekly (Lisa Schwarzbaum)
Radio is assembled from small, hard stones of ignorance and intolerance paved over by large, mushy examples of community goodness. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Lisa Schwarzbaum)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Mack Bates)Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Mack Bates)
Although it succumbs to overt audience manipulation when the story loses steam, Radio tunes in some solid performances from a skilled cast, led by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Mack Bates)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
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 talents playing banal, cardboard characters. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
The real Radio, and the real coach -- seen together in the movie's feel-good epilogue -- deserve better. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)
A tall glass of hogwash that's terrified to declare itself the racial-healing melodrama it is. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
Earnest to a fault, Radio tries so hard to be a feel-good movie, you might wind up feeling bad that you don't like it more. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
Gooding is never allowed to play a three-dimensional character but rather ... human currency to be handed around whenever a character needs his or her consciousness raised. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Gary Smith wrote about Radio in Sports Illustrated . Now Hollywood is up with Mike Rich doing the script and Ed Harris as a composite coach trying to keep the tear-jerking below flood level. They fail. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Fantastica Daily (Mervius)Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
It’s not what I think of as a memorable film. It’s a schmalty tale. The movie is good for one trip through, certainly, but it falls short of hitting its target. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Seattle Times (Erik Lundegaard)Seattle Times (Erik Lundegaard)
We live in a winner-take-all culture, and Radio suggests there are more important things in life. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Seattle Times (Erik Lundegaard)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
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. ...read the complete Radio movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)
The result is just as the filmmakers hoped. You'd have to hold a stubborn defensive line not to be moved by this film's heart. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
Video may have killed the radio star, but a goofy script killed the Radio star. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Daily News (Glenn Whipp)Los Angeles Daily News (Glenn Whipp)
It makes you want to scream: 'OK, I GET IT!!! IT'S GOOD TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS! NOW PLEASE, IN THE NAME OF GOD, TURN OFF THE SAPPY MUSIC!' ...read the complete Radio movie review at Los Angeles Daily News (Glenn Whipp)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)
A lot better than the Muzak it threatens to be, but, ultimately, not good enough to keep our itchy fingers off the dial. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Tribune (Robert K. Elder)Chicago Tribune (Robert K. Elder)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Portland Oregonian (Marc Mohan)Portland Oregonian (Marc Mohan)
That the film rises above that level to the merely mediocre is an accomplishment of almost heroic proportions. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Portland Oregonian (Marc Mohan)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
Radio is almost as bad as it gets. That it isn't is thanks to Ed Harris, who brings depth and focus to his performance. ...read the complete Radio movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)
Trailers make it seem as though Radio is all about football, but it's not, and once the film leaves the fall sport behind it wanders around in no particular direction until it reaches an abrupt, poorly executed ending. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for The New York Times (Stephen Holden)The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Mr. Harris's coach is not a flashy role. But the actor, who effortlessly embodies an all-American ideal of strength and decency, drains as much of the syrup from his character as any actor could hope. ...read the complete Radio movie review at The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
There's no arguing that Cuba Gooding Jr. is trying to do right by the mentally disabled James Robert Kennedy. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Black Flix (Laurence Washington)Black Flix (Laurence Washington)
Howard Jones, played by the man’s man Ed Harris, takes Radio under his wing after noticing him hanging around the football field. At first, Radio seems timid and scared, probably because he spent most of his time wandering around by himself, being ...read the complete Radio movie review at Black Flix (Laurence Washington)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for USA Today (Claudia Puig)USA Today (Claudia Puig)
Though probably well-intentioned, Radio comes off as manipulative of its audience and exploitative of the mentally challenged. ...read the complete Radio movie review at USA Today (Claudia Puig)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Tribune (Robert K. Elder)Chicago Tribune (Robert K. Elder)
Although his is not a perfect film, Tollin employs his soap-opera dialogue and aim-for-the-solar-plexus message quite unapologetically. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Chicago Tribune (Robert K. Elder)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Citysearch (Erich Scholz)Citysearch (Erich Scholz)
This sappy, overlong, three-hankie melodrama featuring Gooding Jr. in full-on Rain Man mode is about as corny as they come. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Citysearch (Erich Scholz)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for LA Weekly (Scott Foundas)LA Weekly (Scott Foundas)
Harris tries his best to make something more out of his one-dimensional white-knight character, while Gooding plays his vaudeville Rainman routine to the rafters. ...read the complete Radio movie review at LA Weekly (Scott Foundas)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for The Hollywood Reporter (Kirk Honeycutt)The Hollywood Reporter (Kirk Honeycutt)
The cast, which includes Alfre Woodard and Debra Winger, manages to give thoughtful performances that salvage the film's integrity. ...read the complete Radio movie review at The Hollywood Reporter (Kirk Honeycutt)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Dallas Observer (Bill Gallo)Dallas Observer (Bill Gallo)
The cumulative effect of the movie's many Kodak moments and stretches of greeting-card sentiment is that they kill us with kindness. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Dallas Observer (Bill Gallo)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Variety (Robert Koehler)Variety (Robert Koehler)
"Inspired by a true story" it may be, but inspired it's not. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Variety (Robert Koehler)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
If this movie was a tree in Vermont, it'd have a tap driven into it and be sporting a bucket to catch the sap. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)
Common sense and good taste go out the window as Gooding hams it up through one nauseating scene of uplift after another. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for New York Times (Stephen Holden)New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for TV Guide (Sabrina Rojas Weiss)TV Guide (Sabrina Rojas Weiss)
The heavy-handed score by notoriously heavy-handed James Horner is often the only indication that there's supposed to be a point to this showcase for Gooding's relentlessly adorable mugging. ...read the complete Radio movie review at TV Guide (Sabrina Rojas Weiss)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Boxoffice Magazine (Sheri Linden)Boxoffice Magazine (Sheri Linden)
Despite its heart-tugging machinations, there's a compelling sense of decency that drives the film, underscored at the end by footage of the real-life counterparts. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Boxoffice Magazine (Sheri Linden)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Empire (Jo Berry)Empire (Jo Berry)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.com (Eric Meyerson)filmcritic.com (Eric Meyerson)
What's missing is drama -- there's pretty much none of it, in spite of the swelling music. ...read the complete Radio movie review at filmcritic.com (Eric Meyerson)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.52 out of 4 stars for Premiere (Sara Brady)Premiere (Sara Brady)
Both Harris and Gooding, Jr. are fine actors trapped in a mawkish, pandering production that wastes the latter and is a waste of time for the former. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Premiere (Sara Brady)
Radio (2003) scores a combined 1.50 out of 4 stars for Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)
You don’t have to be a cynic to find Radio naive for suggesting that high school is a good place for emotionally fragile misfits, that racism is not a problem, that caring for someone is all it takes. ...read the complete Radio movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marrit Ingman)
 
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Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.
Overall Rating:
2.4479
Radio (2003) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
2.3506
Radio (2003) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
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