The Comeback Kid

Six months ago, in my "mini review" of The Proposal I said that Sandra Bullock made 2009 the year of the cougar. Well, I was wrong... sort of. Had it not been for critically-panned All About Steve, 2009 would be the year of Sandra Bullock. Maybe it still is. The Proposal, a generic rom-com, elevated solely by Bullock's charming performance, earned $164 million at the box office and became the highest grossing film of her career. Until The Blind Side. The feel-good football flick is tearing up the box office. Not only did it open to the best numbers of Bullock's career, but this weekend, after spending two weeks in second place, it will pass Twilight: New Moon and reign in at number one. Only one word can describe that feat: remarkable.

The Blind Side, based on the life story of professional football player Michael Oher (played in the filmed by Quinton Aaron), begins the weekend before Thanksgiving when Leigh Anne Touhy (Bullock, playing a character who could be cast in a new Bravo series, "The Real Housewives of Tennessee") takes in a homeless Oher. Leigh Anne treats Michael as one of her own children, and encourages him to work hard in school and pursue football. It's fairly predictable stuff.

Director John Lee Hancock has a great story on his hands, but only makes a decent film. The Blind Side conveniently skims over the rough spots in Oher's childhood and too often presents Leigh Anne and her family as the pitch-perfect American family. Leigh Anne is a wholesome do-gooder, her husband, Sean, (Tim McGraw) is a "whatever you say honey" guy, and their children, Collins, a smart and successful cheerleader and SJ, The Blind Side's version of Remember the Titans' Sheryl, are spotless. A few more doses of reality would have done The Blind Side well.

However, as with The Proposal, The Blind Side can thank Bullock for raising the film above its average material. This is one of the best performances of her career. It's up there with her turns in Crash and Miss Congeniality. The role as a Christian housewife fits her like a glove -- she's simultaneously refreshing and fiery. By the end of the film, I'd even forgiven Leigh Anne for being Republican. Now that's a big deal.

As great as she is, it's doubtful that Bullock will land her first Oscar nomination. Though she should be a double nominee at the Golden Globes for both The Proposal and The Blind Side. However, if 2009 proved anything, it's that you should never count Sandra Bullock out, so come February she may very well be walking the red carpet in hopes of a golden statue. Just call her the comeback kid. Correction, she's the comeback cougar.

Grade: B+