A review of The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock – a movie based on the true story of Leigh Ann Touhy.

On Thanksgiving night, my brother-in-law was kind enough to stay with our daughter so my husband and I could go to a movie. While the impromptu date didn’t relieve us of some pretty severe grumpiness, we did get to see a really great movie.

[Seriously, we I have been so grumpy and out of sorts the past couple of weeks. I don’t know what the deal is, but I’m ready for it to be over. This is the most wonderful time of the year, right?]

Back to the movie. We really want to see Sherlock Holmes, but of course it doesn’t come out until Christmas Day. So we were left with Couples Retreat or The Blind Side. And I believe we chose wisely.

The Blind Side is based on a book that is based on a true story. Here’s the synopsis from IMDB (mild spoiler alert):

The Blind Side depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

When we got home from the movie, I did what I often do: I looked up reviews online. I like to see if my opinion matches up with the pros’, okay? In this case, it really didn’t.

While Variety called the movie an “uplifting and entertaining feel-good, fact-based sports drama,” other reviews labeled it “middle-class pandering at its most shameless” and “a facile, feel-good fable that substitutes cliché for reality at nearly every turn.”

I guess I can see what they’re talking about. But I thought the movie was great. And so did the sold-out theater full of people who watched it with us. Throughout the movie, people spontaneously clapped several times, we all laughed hard, and most of us couldn’t help but wipe away a few tears.

The Blind Side was funny and touching, and it made at least one viewer (ahem, me) really think. It had some sports stuff for the guys, and it was clean enough for most audiences. And Sandra Bullock…or her character…or both were amazing. I want to be just like Leigh Anne Tuohy when I grow up.

Overall, The Blind Side was just a darned good movie, and I give it two thumbs up. No matter what those critics say.

What’s your favorite sports movie?