You might be inclined to think that a World War II epic released in the heart of Awards Season would be a surefire success, but a number of details surrounding Red Tails should have sent up some significant red flags for filmmakers. First off, this war film was the first Lucasfilm production not associated with Indiana Jones or Star Wars in nearly twenty years, so audiences had no true studio reputation to use in order to judge this departure from tradition. Second, the subject matter focused on an extremely narrow aspect of the war that is not necessarily a part of general knowledge, and there were no truly bankable actors to help moviegoers move past that unfamiliarity. Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of both Terrance Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr., but both have been attracting some negative attention lately, and rumors of the hefty production budget just kept painting this “blockbuster” as one hell of a gamble. Still, curiosity was enough to compel me to see Red Tails alongside my grandfather, a WWII veteran who was more than familiar with the impressive legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and someone who could validly judge the historical adaptation.
Though it is engaging at certain points and makes no drastic missteps, the reality is that Red Tails still comes across as largely mediocre, thanks largely to poor character development, noticeable overacting, and hokey pandering to patriotism. Because none of the pilots within the film are played by a recognizable actor, there was a larger burden to attach some sentimentality or connection to the characters, but the film failed to rise to the challenge. When one of the pilots makes the ultimate sacrifice in the name of patriotism, you feel little emotion other than annoyance over the cornball music and impatience awaiting the next dogfight. In terms of the recognizable actors, Terrance Howard tries to breathe some life into the script and dialogue, but his efforts are largely squandered anytime Cuba Gooding, Jr. walks onscreen and ostensibly tries his best to destroy whatever credibility is left in the scene. So, aside from some mildly entertaining characters and impressive aerial battles, there is little memorable cinematic magic that compels mandatory attendance to Red Tails.
Overall Recommendation: Low
