MovieChat Forums > Radio (2003) Discussion > WHY IS EVERYONE SAYING IT'S JUST A MOVIE...

WHY IS EVERYONE SAYING IT'S JUST A MOVIE ABOUT A RETARTED GUY!!!

posted 19 years ago by RKKnotts
65 replies | jump to latest

Everyone keeps saying the whole movie is about some retarted guy. Well, to those people, I have to ask, have you ever met a person with special needs? My mom works with special needs kids at a middle school, and I have never met anyone who is better to be around. No matter what kind of mood you're in, if a Down Syndrome child comes up to give you a hug, you know what true innocence is. These kids don't know about drugs and crime, they just know that they love everyone. One of my best friends are down syndrome kids. This is exactly how Radio is. He doesn't care that Johnny and the others picked on him and beat him up. He forgives all of them completely. That takes a lot more than most people I know. This movie isn't about a retarted guyy inspiring a town or any of the other crap you people who have reviewed this movie have come up with. This movie is about a guy who doesn't see the bad in people, but accepts them for what they are. Through his caring for everyone he teaches Coach Jones to connect with his family, for Johnny to actually become a decent guy, and for the people at this school to learn a valuable lesson: they need to be more like Radio, cause he has this innocence about him that makes him capable of loving even the scum of the earth. So for all you critics who keep referring to this as a film about a retarted guy, I have to feel sorry for you, cause you will never know what it is like to brighten someone's day by just saying hi and giving them a hug. Cause that is all it takes to make Radio and those like him happy.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] RKKnotts 19 years ago

If any of these people could meet a down syndrome child they would have new respect for this movie. I loved the movie, but I will agree that the writing could have been better at times. They wrote the character of Radio perfectly, and I think Cuba Gooding did an excellent job of portaying this character.

[–] criswe777 17 years ago

i know i had friends that sayed that but i saw the movie and i was not just about a retarted guy. i think that those people that say that are the retarted because they are making fun of the retarted people i know have friends that are a special.

[–] Huttah07 19 years ago

Thank you. Some people have little or no sense, and anyone who can say something like "another retard movie" obviously has none

[–] TheaterRaven 19 years ago

Cuba was absolutely wonderful. It's crazy that he didn't win, let alone get even nominated for an Oscar for this role. Absolutely outstanding performance.

Nevermore!

[–] PercySledge 19 years ago

Define Irony

Someone thinking "retarded" is actually "retarted".

And this movie was downright bad. Read some reviews.

[–] dead_juggalette_53 18 years ago

As far as I'm concerned, everyone has their opinions about movies, PercySledge.
If you've got to go by reviews to make your opinion about something, then you're a jackass.
I currently live in Anderson, South Carolina, & my little sister is a student at T. L. Hanna High School, & she sees Radio everyday, & all she's ever had to say about him is that he's the nicest person you could ever meet.
He's overcome so much in his life, so if somebody wants to make a movie about it, you could at least have the common decency to not pass judgment on something or someone you know nothing about.

[–] el_ravager 19 years ago

His portrayal of a person with a mental handicap was scary on, it was like he was channeling my cousin. Half the time the movie left me in amazement of his acting skill and the other time on the brink of tears. I can honestly say that this movie changed my life. Its sad to say that it took a movie to do so, but its true, it made me look at my cousin in a whole different light and see something inside of him that I could not see before. For the first time in my life I was able to see beyond the handicap to the full person inside. If I had only opened my eyes years earlier.

[–] MooOfTheOpera 19 years ago

i agree completely. My school has one person with downs syndrome (my school only has about 120 ppl in it grades 7-12!) and he is everybody's friend. he has to give everybody a high five when he passes and he hugs people frequently...bu back on subject- all you hear when you ask a person what the movie is about is "its about a retarded dude that likes football and basketball and bla bla bla..' seriously...

For who could hate or bear a grudge against a luscious bit of fudge?

[–] the_short_guy91 19 years ago

i think people are just too damn inconsiderate to respect this movie, the message it delivers, and people with special needs. the 'retards' are people who were just born the way they are, and in my experience, they are way better, nicer people than all of those inconsiderate morons who fail to understand that THEY CANT HELP IT! it just pains me to realize that there are so many of those insulting people who just cant live with the fact that people aren't the same as them. so to all of you disgraces to humanity, and you know who you are please go consume some excrement and probe the deep depths of your mind until you realize what inconsiderate idiots you are. thank you

[–] eprep1912 19 years ago

my brother is a "retard" and he has Aspergers Syndrome and is on the Autistic Spectrum. He also has ADD and ADHD and epilepsy. He is now 10 and can be a pain in the @$$, but he has no idea what anything in "real life" is, like drugs, or alcohol. He is the picture of innocence, and I cried through the whole movie because I know that this could happen to my brother.

[–] BabyLightMyFire 19 years ago

my brother is a "retard" too. he has autism as well. he is deaf too like me. yes i'm deaf but it's a no big deal because it does not stop me from going to college or attending medical school. my brother has a very smart intelligence in computers and games. he is very nice though. i'm really glad that he doesn't know about drugs or something as dangerous and depressing as that. i have several friends who have down syndrome too and cerebral palsy and autism. it is a truly inspiring movie. eprep1912: i know how you feel. my brother can be a pain in the butt,too. lol.

[–] old_Sk00l 19 years ago

your family must have great genes

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[–] sincbabe 19 years ago

Apparently Old_sk001 their genes are better than yours!!! I think your "special school" released you a little too soon.

[–] lol-wut 19 years ago

I used to work with the kids with Downs, MS and MD at my school a few years ago. They were sweet and so innocent, just like us but a little different. Ignorance truly is bliss for those kids. This movie touched me so much. After I saw it in the theater I cried like a baby.

_________________
Life is TOO short to hang out with LOSERS.

[–] devilsreject1981-1 19 years ago

The reason this movie is so funny is Cuba Gooding Jr. embraces his role as up and coming businessman and single father. Truly his best work since Boys in the Hood, Jerry Maguire and Boat Trip.

George Bush doesn't care about black puppets.

[–] kevmoL7374 19 years ago

I loved this movie. My mom used to work with a mentally retarded child named Matt. Matt brought me a lot of joy because now, 5 years later, Matt still comes up to me in the hall and says hello. I liked this movie because it had a nice message. Sure, the script was a little rough, but it was nice because it showed people that you don't have to be really smart or "regular" to be special. Its the prejudiced ASS HOLES who make this movie unenjoyable to watch becuase they say it's "just a movie about retards" Well, they are wrong. This movie was touching and S. Epatha Merkinson gave a stand up performance. You know what I say to people who make fun of mentally retarded people? I say they are very one sided and will only enjoy the movie if it stars a "regular" character, which is very sad, because this movie was very enjoyable.

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[–] rachelallover 19 years ago

yawl r really heartless u no that??its more than just about a "retard"!!i love this movie and its a shame thats all u think boutit!

i ThOuGhT u WeRe My FaIrYtAlE...a DrEaM wHeN iM nOt SlEePiN...

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[–] servlingboysp 19 years ago

Jeez bobdole_879 if you didnt want to watch this movie about a retarted man, then you should have screwed yourself over. This movie was beautiful and if you cant accept it you should be the one burned on an island because retarded people are the same as a anyone else.

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[–] leon_kennedy_rpd1732 19 years ago

Man, people these days have no soul. It really is heartless to say its just some movie about a retarded guy. They're probably just saying that cause there is no sex in the movie. Thats right, its all about the sex isn't it?

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[–] Dark_Nine 19 years ago

He was a mentally handicapped boy taint nothing wrong with considering most people without mental problems are usually more retarded than the people with mental problems.My mom used to take care of the mentally ill and I am friends with the mentally ill.

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[–] jjphtm 19 years ago

All in all not a bad film, though a bit cliché and I've seen it before.

Addressing your subject line: The main character is Radio, based on a real person, who is, in fact mentally "retarded". People who are sensitive about that word need to pull off the gas in your out-of-control-blind anger vehicle and return to reality.

re·tard·ed
adj.
Often Offensive. Affected with mental retardation.
Occurring or developing later than desired or expected; delayed.

Yes, the word itself can be used as offensive, but it is a word that describes a condition as well. And yes, idiots who use the word "retard" can pretty much be characterized as offensive, insensitive jerks.

Of course the movie about something more than just a mentally challenged young man - anyone who says otherwise didn't watch the film. You're all stating the obvious.

But lecturing people about a word when you can't even spell it is pretty offensive to intelligent people as well.

[–] myselfdom 19 years ago

Woah.

No, that's not what they're complaining about.

They said, put into simpler terms for you to understand, "Why is everyone saying it's just a movie that involves a retarded (as in mentally handicapped) guy?"

They're not lecturing about the word, dude.

They're talking about how they don't understand how others can't see the movie is more than that- that the movie teaches touching life lessons.

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[–] chrisjnelson13 19 years ago

If your mom works with special needs kids, shouldn't you know how to spell 'retarded'? Perhaps you should be in your mom's class.

Chris J. Nelson

[–] big_t997 19 years ago

Meh if anything the guy this movie protrays is nothing but a glorified mascot that everyone uses to make themselves feel good because they are welcoming him as on of their own.

If they really wanted to treat the guy like a normal person they'd kick him off the team so they could focus on winning a championship.

but instead they treat him much like one treats a pet.

[–] ms_grumpy_gills 18 years ago

If he was truly used to make people feel better about themselves, he wouldn't be treated nice. Coach Jones would have left him tied up in the shed. And no matter what anyone says, you can't treat a mentally handicapped person normal. It doesn't work. Kicking him off the team just so they could win the championship is not treating anyone normal, and being very selfish with themselves. They give him something to do, some way of feeling better about himself. If he didn't have that, it would be like taking away his life. I know because my aunt is mentally disabled. When she finds that there is something she CAN do, she wants to do it all the time. And what is wrong with letting them do it? You obviously don't know anything about mental handicaps, or how to treat anyone with any measure of respect or decency. FOOTBALL IS JUST A GAME!! Get some knowledge about this before you go spouting through a hole in your head.

[–] tente 19 years ago

I MUST SAY I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH MOST OF THE RESPONSES HERE. WHAT DISAPOINTS ME ARE THE FEW THAT ARE SO UNHAPPY WITH THEMSELVES AND HOW THEY PERCIEVE THEMSELVES THAT THEY CHOOSE TO PICK ON SPECIAL PEOPLE WITH NEEDS.ITS A SHAME THAT FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH THAT THESE FEW CANT LIST COMPASSION AS ONE OF THERE PASSIONS.IT WAS A NICE MOVIE WITH A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE.

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