They love their sports in the US, and American Football is probably one of their favourites; this year’s Superbowl was watched by an average US audience of 106.5 million viewers. That’s a hell of a lot of XXL bums on seats. It also just so happened to be the most watched thing on US TV ever. It’s no wonder then that Hollywood is more than happy to make the odd film about the sport. And although this isn’t directly about the game, The Blind Side picks up that funny-shaped football and runs with it.

It’s fair to say that young Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) has had more than his share of hard knocks in his life already. With his mother not fit to look after him, Michael has spent much of his youth in and out of foster care; actually, more out than in, as he often finds himself running out on them and living on the street.

The father of a friend of his, who’s let Michael sleep on their couch, convinces the coach that “Big Mike” is a natural footballer and would be an asset to his school team. The coach pulls a few strings and Michael soon finds himself enrolled in a Christian school.

At first the teachers think he’s on the slow side; he doesn’t help his cause by not being that vocal either. However, they soon learn that there is a bright kid trying to get out, he just needs a little coaxing.

His path soon crosses that of the Tuohy family, headed by the formidable Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock); not only do they have big hearts they have even bigger wallets as they decide to take Michael in.

He may have landed on his feet, but Michael soon finds that there’s still a lot of hard work ahead of him, especially as he wants to be a professional football player.

I'm sorry but what film is this again? This looks like the Mad-hatters tea party to me.

Although The Blind Side’s heart is in the right place, it really ought to have listened to its head once in a while. While its story, based on a true story, is a commendable one, it’s coated in such a thick syrupy gloss of sentiment that it might prove harmful to diabetics watching.

Aaron does well as the down-and -out, teenaged BFG; it’s a quiet, subtle performance, particularly from such a young head on large shoulders.

And then there’s Sandra Bullock. Kudos has to be given to this year’s Oscars for its restraint at throwing all its gold statues in James Cameron’s direction; however, someone should call the police and inform them that Meryl Streep was robbed, live, in front of a global audience, and everyone knows who did it – Bullock.

That’s not to say that Bullock isn’t any good in it; she is warm, charming and wholly likeable. The problem is that the film is nothing more than a made-for-TV effort. In fact, it’s almost a big screen outing of Different Strokes, but without the silly 2What you talking about Willis?”catchphrase. You could easily sit down with your gran on a Sunday afternoon and just let it wash over you; unless of course, you have one of those racist grans, in which case, you’ll probably need a bar of soap handy.

There is simply nothing exceptional about Bullock’s performance, or indeed the entire film. It plays it safe from beginning to end. Even when it attempts to get a little gritty, it plays out an episode of Lark Rise to Candleford.

Which is a shame, as the true story in itself is quite a remarkable one, let down by a director unwilling to make a tougher, more offensive play throughout (which may or may not be an accurate US football sporting analogy).

What could have potentially resonated a real sense of social commentary, ends up being an empty, soulless experience with no real balls at all.