The Paperboy
2012106 minutes
rated R
by Scott Mendelson
Lee Daniels's The Paperboy is a movie that frankly skirts by purely on the good will of its actors. The story is pretty much a wash, even if its mundane nature wins points for probable realism. The narrative is mostly drained of pulse-quickening melodrama, but with little of substance to take its place. And the third act simply lounges about before halfheartedly building to a seemingly arbitrary conclusion. Despite all of these demerits, the picture is mostly entertaining, and pretty much full credit should go to its cast. Nearly every major cast-member is somewhat playing against type, and the film qualifies in the end as a modest acting treat. It's not a good film and it barely qualifies as a good movie, but as a showcase of some surprisingly nuanced acting, it merits a viewing and a token recommendation.
