Expressing satisfaction

If you’ve seen a coming-of-age sports movie or a racial integration film, you’ve seen them all. “The Express” attempts to combine both genres, and although it’s all familiar, it's also fairly convincing.

Running back Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) was the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious award. When he earned it in 1961 as a member of the Syracuse Orangemen, he was still being persecuted in his own town during the civil rights era.

The bulk of “The Express” follows Davis’ sophomore year when Coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) bumps him up to the varsity team.

Racial issues in this movie  serve as side notes to the action. The coach is concerned with little aside from winning, let alone race, and that makes “The Express” nothing more than a sports film.

When Davis refuses to leave the field, he’s not making a stand for African-Americans; he just wants to play. The coach isn’t scared about West Virginia fans harming the black kids on his team; he’s scared they’ll harm his teammates who happen to be black.

This makes “The Express” a frustrating cliche. But it is well-acted and well-directed, and it is especially grin-worthy watching Davis dominate during every game.

Quaid specifically delivers a strong, believable performance. He has always struck me as a Harrison Ford wannabe, acting less and frowning and grunting more as he ages, but what better role for him than a surly college football coach?

Of course, we’ve seen it all before. But lack of originality and inability to directly tackle the issues aside, “The Express” is an enjoyable, exciting sports film.