Alfre Woodard, Bert Beatson, Chris Mulkey

James Robert Kennedy--nicknamed 'Radio' because of his vintage radio collection and his love of music--is a loner in Anderson, South Carolina, pushing his ever-present grocery cart up and down the str...( read more  read more... )eets. He speaks to no one and is rarely spoken to, until one day, Coach Harold Jones, one of the town's most respected men, and coach of the popular high school football team, befriends him. Radio is suspicious at first. But Coach Jones is persistent, even enlisting the help of Radio's mother. Jones' friends and family are taken aback as well since, until he met Radio, all his energies were poured exclusively into football. Slowly, Coach Jones earns Radio's trust and opens up a new world to him. He invites Radio to help out at football practice and during games and to sit in on his classes at school, despite the initial misgivings of Principal Daniels. He also champions him to the football players, the students and faculty. Coach Jones' life is also enriched by Radio, from whom he learns to value friendship and family ties as much as he does coaching football. Still, there are those in town who believe that Coach Jones' devotion to the young man is distracting him from his duties as head coach of the football team. There are several attempts to have Radio barred from the classroom and, after his mother's untimely death, remanded to a mental-health facility. Coach Jones valiantly fights off these efforts, but he is finally forced to make a difficult decision, which will impact both his growing friendship with Radio and his career as a football coach.

Flixster Users

83% liked it

153,371 ratings

Critics

35% liked it

112 critics

PG, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Michael Tollin

Release Date: October 24, 2003

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DVD Release Date: January 27, 2004

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Stats: 6,495 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,495)


  • August 23, 2008
    One of my favorites. So sad how mentally challenged people are treated by people who just have no idea. But it all came together in the end :)
  • July 15, 2008
    True story of a South Carolina high school football coach who mentors a mentally challanged boy. I think this was one of Cuba Gooding's finer acting roles.
  • February 4, 2008
    This was a really good movie Cuba did good.
  • September 23, 2007
    This movie may be predictable, yet it is filled with lessons we could all learn about life and treating our fellow humans with respect and dignity. Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding, Jr are both spectacular in their respective roles. Knowing the film is based upon a real individual; o...( read more)ne cannot help but have the heart strings tweaked a bit while watching.
  • August 13, 2007
    wheres the sequel? tv anyone?
  • November 3, 2009
    might be cuba's best perfomance
  • October 17, 2009
    I really liked this movie, Cuba Gooding Jr plays a psycholigically handicapped young man who loves to listen to music. He is called Radio because of his interest for the radio. He likes to wander around the local football field and watch the players play football. Several players...( read more) like to harrass Radio but the coach sees some qualities in Radio that he really likes. So the coach starts fighting for Radio's rights and wellbeing. A very touching story and very well played by these talented actors.
  • October 14, 2009
    This is quite a powerful film.
    Cuba Gooding Jr. turns in a brilliant performance as the mentally challenged loner James Robert Kennedy nicknamed "Radio" due to his vintage radio collection in which one is always in his hand playing music he loves, and gives a "score" to his lone...( read more)ly existence of pushing a grocery cart up and down the streets of a South Carolina town.
    Ed Harris is brilliant as usual as the town's popular high school football team coach who takes an interest in Radio upon seeing him watching a practice session. His friendship and concern for Radio develops into something that means much more than football to the very well respected coach, Harold Jones.
    Jones allows Radio to be part of the team's practices and games on the sidelines, and sit in on his classes in school which opens up a whole new world for James(Radio), and essentially gives him a life that he is in dire need of.
  • September 22, 2009
    It was not BAD, just cheesy...
    I couldn't help but think of "simple jack" from tropic thunder... LOL
  • September 19, 2009
    Yeah that's a very cute-and-senti movie!!!!! Real nice

Critic Reviews


October 24, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Though probably well-intentioned, Radio comes off as manipulative of its audience and exploitative of the mentally challenged. full review

October 24, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

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. full review

October 24, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Every once in a while human nature expresses itself in a way we can feel good about, and this is one of those times. full review

October 23, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

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. full review

October 23, 2003
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

The real Radio, and the real coach deserve better. full review

View more Radio reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • ilovetheeightiesforever
    July 25, 2009
    i love this movie very much!!!!!!!!!!!! i didn't think i was going to like it but i am very glad i saw this. i loved this movie, i still do. cuba gooding jr. and ed harris are both great actors and they did a great job in this movie.
  • pavacri23
    February 23, 2008
    this movie is very inspirantly
  • 1HotGrandma
    September 23, 2007
    A very heart warming movie. One of those must see movie, Cuba Gooding Jr. gives an outstanding performance as "Radio". A reminder not to judge others if we feel they are "different" than us.
  • silverjapandragon
    July 11, 2007
    Just Awesome!!!
  • flexsc2
    June 12, 2007
    Awesome!
  • tzrudkin
    June 3, 2007
    I WANT BOTH!!!
  • jenieceroxyoursox
    April 7, 2007
    man I love this movie! It made me cry and I NEVER cry at movies! it is very good!
  • StEvEhOwEyLoVeR
    January 20, 2007
    i love this movie sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!

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Radio Trivia


  • in what movie did tom hanks talk to a radio show host that many women listened to and made a woman fall in love with him?  Answer »
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  • This 2005 remake has appeared previously as a very low budget film, as well as a radio series, a record album, a novel, a television series, a computer game, a stage show, a comic book and a towel.  Answer »
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