I feel like The Grinch

Bobby is simply not a good movie. It's sincere and earnest, but not good.

This makes me sad because I really wanted to like it. The theater was packed and the audience ranged in age from about 25 to retirement. I wanted all these people to like it, too. I wanted Bobby Kennedy's message of hope and compassion and courage to reach as many people as possible. I'm not sure it will. Instead I fear audiences will be distracted by Ashton Kutcher's and Emilio Estevez' faux facial hair, Helen Hunt's fake tan and Demi Moore's awe-inspiring fall.

Bobby Kennedy was so important because he showed that politicians have the capacity to change and grow into statesmen. It's as though once his heart was irreparably broken by his brother's assassination, that same heart also opened to include others who were suffering, too. It also gave him the courage to take on a sitting President, the leader of his own party, while the country was at war. Watch the Republicans dance around George W. Bush today if you don't think that took courage.

The movie ends with a long, uninterrupted voiceover by Bobby himself. That was my favorite part. A shy, awkward public speaker, his diffidence added to his sincerity. It made me happy to see no one slipping into their jackets or heading toward the exits while he explained his vision for what we could be. There was also news footage of Bobby talking about all the things we aren't spending money on (environment, education, eradicating hunger here in the US) when we're spending money on an unpopular war abroad. I hope everyone who sees this movie listens, and that they hear.