Big Mo Reviews

Part "Brian's Song," part THE STRATTON STORY (also scripted by the writer of this film, Douglas Morrow), MAURIE is based on the ordeal of Cincinnati Royals star Maurice Stokes, who was struck with paralysis that ended his promising career and left him hospitalized. Onetime San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Bernie Casey gives a fine performance as Maurie; Bo Swenson plays Jack Twyman, his Royals teammate who dedicates a decade to Maurie's rehabilitation, raising money through an annual charity game and making it possible for Maurie to talk again before death ended his 10-year struggle. Unfortunately, despite the leads' fine characterizations, Morrow and director Daniel Mann lay on the sentiment so thick that the touching humanity of the remarkable real-life relationship between Twyman and Stokes is smothered. The film plays on television under the title BIG MO.