The previews for the “Blind Side” might remind you of one of those typical football movies, on the contrary, the movie is the true story about a young boy’s rise to defeat his unfortunate circumstances.

“The Blind Side” starts off with a boy named Michael “Big Mike” Oher (Quinton Aaron) who grew up in the ghetto, born to a drug addict mother and moved from one foster family to the next. His potential for football brings him to a private high school, which is very different from the life he once had. The school is made up of all white, Republican, mostly rich kids, where even the teachers underestimate Big Mike’s potential to succeed.

Having to stay in this lonely and helpless environment, Mike befriends an elementary school kid named Sean Tuohy (Jay Head) whose mother Leigh Ann Touhy (Sandra Bullock) offers him a place to stay. Big Mike soon becomes an official member of the Tuohy family, which later causes the Tuohy’s to suffer ridicule. Eventually though, Big Mike manages to make his way into the hearts of others just like he did with the Tuohy’s.

Many of the teachers who thought of Big Mike as a lost cause are stunned as they realize his aptitude for learning. His peers that segregated him eventually accept him and see him to be the kind and charming guy he was all along. Even his football teammates see him grow into his talent.

The film reaches a point where you realize that everything has been too perfect and an impending threat to Big Mike’s new life arises, but this is where the true story lies. The growth of not only Michael, but the Tuohy family as they accept this young stranger into their home helps them experience what the true meaning of family and community is.

Bullock does a superb job playing Leigh Ann and brings us a little of her witty humor to a heartfelt movie. Aaron will bring you to tears with his ability to humanize the story of Michael Oher and his development from an at-risk youth to a young man with a promising future.

Whether you are a football fan or not, the “Blind Side” is a great movie because it shows how a football team can be like a family. Every player has their own supporting role and without diversity the team will not succeed. Throughout the film the analogy is brought to light and reminds us that if we want our community to succeed, we must help the individual first.