Tony Toscano Reviews Red Tails

“Red Tails” is an overly simplified and “easy to swallow” look at how the American Air Force treated it’s black pilots during WWII.

“Red Tails” biggest problem is the film never really digs deep enough nor are the characters fully developed for the audience to empathize with. In fact there’s more genuine emotion in an episode of “Hogan’s Heroes” than in most of this film.

The main characters are one-dimensional and bordering on the stereotypical (check out the evil Nazi squadron leader), while the plot is mostly derivative of those feel-good “propaganda” war films from the 1940′s.

On the up side, the aerial sequences were very well done. In fact the film really takes off (pun intended) every time the airmen hit the sky.

These effects were worth a full grade up.

But the film’s lack of character development and conflict is too much to overcome.

“Red Tails” gets a C+ and is rated PG-13.