Telling the wrong ‘Side’ of the story

‘The Blind Side’
Director: John Lee Hancock
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron Rating: PG-13
Grade: ➊➋➌➍➎

At about what feels like three quarters of the way through “The Blind Side,” massive, mild-mannered high school football phenomenon Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) finally takes the field. (In reality, you’re only halfway through.)

It’s exciting, but it’s just one scene. After that, it’s back to the tale of Oher being adopted by wealthy white parents who open their home to the poor  black kid after he’s granted a free ride to their children’s private school.

The problem is, for all the built-in drama of the true story (Oher was drafted to the Baltimore Ravens, playing his first season this year), the end product is long, boring, and self-congratulatory on the adoptive parents’ part.

Newcomer Aaron does a commendable job, but he’s mostly a prop for Bullock’s gaudy, scenery-chewing spitfire. After watching her stomp around for 126 minutes lecturing in an ever-shifting accent, a game of football would be welcome.