Men of Honor: Critic Reviews

By the time its clunking climax rolls around, the film has built up enough honest good will that you can forgive its tear- jerking pomp.

An earnest but C-plus tribute to an A-grade character.

[Gooding's] good performance, as well as the good scenes involving him, fight for breathing room amid the artifice and diversions.

De Niro may be the only thing standing between Men Of Honor -- itself a tipoff of a title, for who really wouldn't rather see Men Of Shame? -- and complete stuffed-shirt dullness.

[Interracial-buddy flicks] are back, and while they've gotten more sophisticated in some ways, they haven't necessarily gotten any better.

Everyone behind the camera goes for the conventional.

Stirring story--may be appropriate for some teens.

Brashear is all sheer determination and nothing else, displaying none of the vulnerability that would make him into a believable human being.

This seaman's tale languishes in shallow waters.

Strangled with formula.

The decision to shift some of the attention to De Niro's character...dilutes the power of Brashear's fascinating life story.

...a well-made throwback to the days of old, when telling a story was what mattered; not special effects or flashy editing.

An unfortunately sappy telling of a truly amazing story.

The performances, especially De Niro's quiet rage, occasionally lift Men of Honor above its predictability

a pair of potentially fascinating characters at its core, two wonderful actors in the lead roles and a boatload of good intentions. So why does this telling of the life of Carl Brashear seem enervated rather than invigorating?

There's nothing in this movie you haven't seen 12 times before.

It holds few surprises, but it's just the ticket if you're in the mood for two hours of proudly traditional entertainment.

...the liberties Hollywood took in dressing it up only serve to undermine its effectiveness.

Bypasses the ambition and integrity found in a similar-themed but markedly better film like Norman Jewison's The Hurricane.

engrossing enough to qualify as solid entertainment with a meaningful message

With every dramatic scene and turn of phrase molded by a formulaic, Screenwriting 101 mentality, it's pure Hollywood pap.

It's a real shame that instead of investigating the era's racism, Men of Honor just paints broad strokes.

Gooding can't will this well-meaning film into life.

So full of schmaltz that it leaves viewers in constant jeopardy of gagging.

The film takes Breshear's courage and determination and dilutes it into cinematic syrup.