Freedom

This is one of those movies that is as dull as it is well-meaning and man, is it ever well-meaning.

Freedom does not remotely approach, say, “12 Years a Slave” in its production values or dramatic impact. But it does offer Mr. Gooding, whose weathered countenance is no longer the exuberantly cherubic face featured in “Jerry Maguire.” In its place is something more interesting: a quiet, rugged and arresting conviction.

A schmaltzy, deeply sentimentalized drama about American slavery and the rise of the Underground Railroad.

In the world of Freedom, slaves and the people who help them are Christians, and the bad guys don’t believe in God.

We get too little character development to be invested in the story and barely a glimpse at the horrific plight of enslaved people.

It’s a restrained performance, but director Peter Cousens should have unleashed some of the “Jerry Maguire” Oscar-winner’s energy for this solemn tale.

Using a slavery narrative to advance an unrelated agenda is pretty tasteless, bordering on offensive.