A tested and proven formula, the other movie that comes to mind immediately for me is Gran Torino. Tom Hanks pulls off a more likable human being than Clint Eastwood, which is part of the point. Hank's Anderson is also less realistic than Eastwood's Kowalski, which is (maybe) also part of the point: grumpy old men don't usually accept people as they are (Anderson), but how they seem (Kowalski) - at least at first.

Still, it's good to see how movies change to adopt our reality as it is, with our neighbors being of every background, gender, and ethnicity. Or maybe it's just the New Yorker in me speaking.

A film full of symbolism, from big hearts to loyalty to principles (and where these principles get you in life), this movie was mostly entertaining, not educating.