The Express (PG)

By Mike Polanyk

American footballer Ernie Davis was the first black man to receive the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best college player.

His fight for equality and respect apparently changed the face of American sport and his story continues to inspire in the States.

This dramatisation of his struggles stars Rob Brown as Davis, who was raised in poverty in Pennsylvanian coal-mining country, but overcame the odds – and the sods – to become a great running back.

Under the guidance of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (played here as a routine grouch-with-a-heart by Dennis Quaid), he a college football hero who set records that still stand to this day.

They love records in American sport. It’s like book-keeping, with balls.

This film had much the same effect on me as book-keeping.

Its predictable plot and bland tone practically had me nodding off.

In fact, I half wished I could have nodded off, as the slushy tone and outright sentimentality made me wonder if I was starting to pick up the barfing bug that afflicts the kids in The Children.

I’m sure Davis was a great man, but I’ve seen this type of all-American strength-in- adversity sports biography so many times that I could have written the script myself.