In, 42, Harrison Ford (Random Hearts) stars as Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers who signs the legendary Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to his first major league contract in 1947, thereby breaking baseball's color barrier. If you're looking for a movie with scenes that range from really good to really bad, well, look no further. Ahead, we answer every question you could possibly have about 42.
Q: What is one of the least-needed written introductions in movie history?
A: "The following is based on a true story," which appears just as 42 begins. Unless 42 had ended with Jackie Robinson's assault on the Death Star, this assumption could have gone unspoken.
Q: How long does it take to get used to the unfortunate accent Harrison Ford uses to portray Branch Rickey?
A: About 30 minutes.
Q: How long does it take to get used to the unfortunate eyebrows Harrison Ford uses to portray Branch Rickey?
A: I will never get used to them. Never ever.
Q: While watching 42, what was the hardest thing to accept?
A: Other than those eyebrows? John C. McGinley as broadcaster Red Barber. Barber had such a serene style, and I kept expecting McGinley to make some sort of insult at Dr. Dorian's expense.
Q: What's the best thing about 42?
A: Chadwick Boseman, who is exceedingly charming as Jackie Robinson.
Q: How does 42 begin?
A: 42 begins with Branch Rickey (Ford) deciding that he wants an African American (or, as said in the movie, "Negro") player to play in the major leagues. This is presented in a highly dramatic way that sets the tone for many more such moments.
Q: Is 42 a paint-by-numbers biopic?
A: Every ticket sold to 42 should come with a paint brush.
Q: When do we first meet Jackie Robinson?
A: Robinson is on the Kansas City Monarch's team bus on his way to Chicago. At the gas station where they stop, Robinson's not allowed to use the bathroom. Regardless, Branch Rickey's people somehow find Robinson at this gas station and bring him to Brooklyn to meet with Rickey.
Q: And then Robinson becomes a Dodger?
A: No. Robinson first spent a season with in the International League with the Montreal Royals.
Q: How much of Robinson's career is covered in 42?
A: The film primarily focuses on Robinson's 1947 rookie season.
Q: Do we see much of Robinson's private life?
A: We see him interact at length with his wife, Rachel (Nicole Beharie), which presents a problem because, baseball-wise there's already so much going on. And then there is his relationship with sportswriter Wendell Smith (Andre Holland). It all adds up to a very long movie.
Q: What is Robinson's relationship with Wendell Smith?
A: Remember in Thirteen Days when Kevin Costner's character was just everywhere? If President Kennedy had anything from an important meeting to a private moment of reflection, Costner was there? That's kind of how Smith is treated in this movie.
Q: What's the worst thing about 42?
A: I have to assume that the racial injustices the real Jackie Robinson suffered were far worse than what we see in this movie, which is trying to appeal to a family audience. The disturbing language is certainly present, but most of the scorn that Robinson receives in the film amounts to "disgusted head shakes" and inside fastballs.
Q: Are the death threats against Robinson addressed?
A: Briefly. And only as an aside.
Q: During 42, will I hear an entire rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
A: Yes.
Q: What's the general tone of 42?
A: 42 is bizarre in one sense, because it drifts back and forth between "wholesome" and "gritty." Basically, in one scene, the film will feel as sterile -- and, at times, as clunky -- as a Hallmark movie; then, in the next scene, a character will repeat a racial slur five times in a row.
Q: How clunky is 42?
A: Boy, could this film use another edit. It's well over two hours long. And, yes, there are a lot of clunky scenes that produced unintentional laughter during the screening that I attended. But, for almost every clunky scene, there's a well-put-together scene that elicits real emotion.
Q: Shouldn't it be easy for a Jackie Robinson movie to elicit emotion?
A: Robinson's story is so inspirational and important that, yes, many scenes should write themselves. And to director Brian Helgeland's credit, there are some really great scenes in this movie.
Q: What's an example of a great scene?
A: Helgeland's handling of the famous moment when Pee Wee Reese (Lucas Black) put his arm around Robinson in front of a hostile Cincinnati crowd is done very well.
Q: What's an example of a bad scene?
A: While the above is happening on the field, a young child is in the stands yelling terrible things at Jackie Robinson. But, once he sees his favorite player, Reese, put his arm around Robinson, the child's entire stance on racial relations changes instantaneously. It's a nice message, but it's awkward to watch.
Q: If I know nothing about baseball, will I understand 42?
A: Yes. At one point a pitcher balks. Immediately thereafter, a young child explains what a balk is to his parent.
Q: Will I like 42?
A: If you're a baseball fan (as I am) then, you probably will. For all of its faults (and, yes, there are a lot) it's still a baseball movie about one of the most important players ever to play Major League Baseball -- if not the most important.
Q: Who is the intended audience for 42?
A: I can only assume that it's intended for younger children who don't yet know Robinson's story. And, for them, the movie is fine. Put it this way: it would be a nice movie to watch in a junior-high social-studies class.
Q: Has Harrison Ford ever portrayed a more haggard character than Branch Rickey in 42?
A: This character is up there in the haggard department, which is saying a lot for Ford. But at least he's sincerely dedicated to the role -- which is more than we can say for his performances in some other recent projects.
Q: Does watching Harrison Ford in 42 give you hope that he can play Han Solo again in Star Wars: Episode VII.
A: Well ... let's just say that at this point I'd be totally on board with Chadwick Boseman playing Han Solo.
Mike Ryan is senior writer for Huffington Post Entertainment. You can contact him directly on Twitter.