X
- 2020
- PG
- Disney+
- 2 h 2 m
- 2020
- PG
- Disney+
- 2 h 2 m
Summary The story of Ray-Ray McElrathbey, a freshman football player for Clemson University, who secretly raised his younger brother on campus after his home life became too unsteady.
Directed By: Reginald Hudlin
Written By: Nick Santora
- 2020
- PG
- Disney+
- 2 h 2 m
- 2020
- PG
- Disney+
- 2 h 2 m
Safety
55
6.3
Where to Watch
Summary The story of Ray-Ray McElrathbey, a freshman football player for Clemson University, who secretly raised his younger brother on campus after his home life became too unsteady.
Directed By: Reginald Hudlin
Written By: Nick Santora
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
55
44% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
56% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
55
44% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
56% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Hudlin transforms a film that would be, in lesser hands, a formulaic hardship-as-aesthetic drama, into an earnest examination of what community means on the field, in the classroom and in our society.
Ray still overcomes adversity, but writers Rick Santora and Randy McKinnon sidestep the stereotypes that so often plague sports films to do so, making it one of the better sports films to be released in some time.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 4 User Ratings
6.3
50% Positive
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
50% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 4 User Ratings
6.3
50% Positive
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
50% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
'Safety' - very good!
Disney enters the sports drama market for what feels like the billionth time, though in fairness they usually nail it - and do the same with this. They've done many better, e.g. 'The Greatest Game Ever Played' and 'Glory Road', but I very much felt entertained by this.
The cinematography is, truly, excellent - credit to Shane Hurlbut. I also took note of the editing (Terel Gibson), which is particularly neat at the beginning. The plot is compelling and features a lot of heart, it certainly uses the usual Disney/sports biopic beats but there's a lot of goodness in there as well. On this note, it has a decision scene where I half expected Chuck Norris to appear. Iykyk.
I enjoyed the cast. Jay Reeves gives a terrific performance as Ray, while Thaddeus J. Mixson is more than solid as brother Fahmarr. Corinne Foxx (daughter of Jamie), James Badge Dale and, despite only a short appearance, Amanda Warren are also good. Cool, for me anyway, to see 'The Walking Dead' alum IronE Singleton involved.
I'd recommend this, for sure.
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Ray-Ray McElrathbey (Jay Reeves) is a man with a bright future. He is a gifted athlete who has accepted a Football scholarship to Clemson and is about to take the first steps towards a better future. In the new Disney + film “Safety” Ray-Ray is about to learn how complicated life as a student athlete can be.
Based on a true story; Ray-Ray struggles with adapting to the more complex defensive schemes, Freshman hazing, class and practice schedules, and adjusting to his new life. His roommate and teammate Daniel (Hunter Sansone); offers him frequent support as being a low on the depth-chart kicker has taught him a perspective on things.
Ray-Ray meets a lady named Kaycee (Corinne Foxx) and sees his life on campus start to improve until life steps in to further complicate things. His young brother Fahmarr (Thaddeus J. Mixson); has been removed from the care of his mother due to her numerous substance issues. With only his gangster relative available; Ray-Ray agrees to care for his brother rather than turn him over to the Foster systems.
Unfortunately for Ray-Ray; having his brother in the dorm with him is a strict violation and his continued care of his brother and the complications it causes threaten his scholarship and very future.
The film is a very touching and engaging look at the extent a person is willing to go to care for a family member and how the politics of college sports often conflict with what appear to be sensible and worthy actions by players and coaches.
The film does not go overboard with game sequences and there is no big game moment as the focus is on the characters and their relationships. “Safety” is one of the more pleasant surprises of the year and one not to miss.
4 stars out of 5
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This is an inspirational movie in the broadest sense. You have to squint a lot to see the true story within it, but it's there.
Although Safety takes its cues from a true story, its beats are comfortingly familiar — or annoyingly so, depending on your fondness for the rhythms of the genre.
Hudlin has this thing firing on all cylinders to be the tearjerker, against all odds crowd-pleaser Oprah fans love (the McElrathbey episode plays during the credits). It’s highly effective. Just don’t ignore that it’s also highly manipulated.
As it is, the family pic's light tone never lets its themes of addiction, abandonment and poverty hit home, instead focusing on its hero's unlikely accomplishment and the brotherhood of sport.
The title says it all: Safety hits recognizable beats and never really challenges its setup, making for a maddeningly, mystifyingly safe crowd-pleaser.
(Mauro Lanari)
It would have been decently bearable if Disney hadn't reverted to using the word and concept of family every frame.
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Production Company
Mayhem Pictures,
Select Films,
The Walt Disney Company,
Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date Dec 11, 2020
Duration 2 h 2 m
Rating PG
Tagline Inspired by a True Story
Awards
Writers Guild of America, USA
• 1 Nomination
Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA
• 1 Nomination
