Red Tails (PG-13, 2012)

Inspired by the real-life Tuskegee Airmen, RED TAILS follows an all-black fighter pilot squadron in World War II as they face off against German planes in the air and the entrenched racism of the mostly white U.S. military on the ground. Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. play the senior officers, but most of the story follows four pilots: responsible Marty "Easy" Julian (Nate Parker), who uses liquor to wash away the horrors of war and his own lack of confidence; cocky ladies' man Joe "Lightning" Little (David Oyelowo), the team's best pilot; eager Ray "Ray Gun" Gannon (Tristan Wilds), the youngest flier; and cutup  Samuel "Joker" George (Elijah Kelley).
 

Red Tails is best when the pilots are in the air. Most of the aerial combat sequences are exciting to watch (though some of the special effects could have used a little more polish). But the film sputters when the planes land. It's clear that the pilots encountered many obstacles from their own compatriots, but the film does a poor job of presenting their stories. The script is filled with preachy, eyerolling-inducing speeches about honor and duty, and cliched characters: the racist officer, the grumpy mechanic, the caricatured German rival, and many more.

How can material this rich go so wrong? The earnest, appealing cast does their best with what they have, but the story jumps from one point to the next without much coherence, and the tone frequently seems jarring; the pilots banter during combat sequences that should leave them shaken and seem to treat the war like an exciting game rather than a life-or-death experience. The Tuskegee Airmen deserve a better tribute than this.