Like a running back and his downfield blockers, “The Express” is a crowd-pleasing civil rights drama made all the more potent because it wraps its uplifting story in the trappings of a sports movie.
This is the Hollywood-true story of Syracuse running back Ernie Davis, nicknamed the Elvira Express. Davis would become the first African American to win the coveted Heisman Trophy, and due to some rather nasty brushes with racism, the film makes the case that Davis is even more notable for his off the field character than for any of his gridiron accomplishments.
Of course, every sports star needs his coach, and Davis gets a double helping of noble mentors. Dennis Quaid plays the Syracuse coach who bonds with his star running back over their shared love of football, even while race politics conspire to keep the two men apart. As the second mentor, Charles S. Dutton, brilliant as always, plays the Davis family patriarch, the man who helped form our hero in his youth.
“The Express” is a crowd-friendly ode to a heroic figure of the civil rights struggle, but it’s only a mediocre drama. The main characters are so glorified that they come across as something less than mortal. Warts-and-all characters are always stronger, and by turningDavis into an icon, the filmmakers have created a story that feels mythic rather than historical. The end result is a certain distance between the audience and the main players. You can really feel this as the film explores a romantic subplot. Davis’ girlfriend (Nicole Behaire) spends more time watching her man on TV than relating to him in person. The romance, as well as much of the entire film, feels somewhat like a character sketch, and it keeps “The Express” from being a truly great film.
Still, there’s no denying the movie’s appeal. You’ll cheer on the good guys and hiss at the nasty racists (sadly, Texas once again falls into the racist category in this film). It’s a bit clichéd, but “The Express” still has more than enough feel-good sentiment and historical civic lessons to come off the field a winner.
Movie reviews by Sean, “The Movie Guy,” are published bi-weekly in The Port Arthur News. Sean welcomes your comments via email at smcbride@kavutv.com.
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