Black or White

The problem with Black or White is that it can’t find the gray area in between.

This well-intentioned but heavy-handed examination of fractured families and contemporary race relations insists on choosing sides when it doesn’t need to, and is too busy yanking at the heartstrings to seriously challenge moviegoers’ brains.

Kevin Costner stars as Elliot, a Los Angeles lawyer who develops a drinking problem while grieving the death of his wife in a car crash. That leaves him as the sole caretaker for his biracial granddaughter, Eloise (Jillian Estell), since Elliot’s daughter died during childbirth.

Eloise’s paternal grandmother, Rowena (Octavia Spencer), has other ideas, retaining her attorney brother (Anthony Mackie) for a child-custody battle that ostensibly seeks to return Eloise to the care of her father (Andre Holland), a recovering drug addict who lives in a rough neighborhood. But it seems Rowena is more interested in catharsis for herself with regard to her son’s shortfalls.

Who will be the best parent? With motives on both sides stemming more from guilt and old grudges than the best interest of Eloise, it’s left to the court to sort out all the finger pointing within an extended family that isn’t destined to reconcile on its own.

The screenplay by director Mike Binder (Reign Over Me) – apparently inspired by a true story – is heartfelt and deals with some important issues, especially in today’s world of changing family dynamics, yet it too often veers toward predictable confrontations.

It’s sensitive but not subtle, accompanied by an overbearing Terence Blanchard jazz score, and that approach tends to compromise the intended message of tolerance and cultural harmony. An overwrought climax doesn’t help, leading to a feeling of cautious optimism that seems tacked-on rather than earned.

The performances help to bring some depth and complexity to the characters, especially newcomer Estell as the precocious girl innocently caught in the middle of the family drama. Spencer plays perhaps the most intriguing role, but her screen time pales in comparison to that of Costner as the de facto hero.

Yet while Black or White might get viewers stirred up about the hypocrisies of racial politics, it’s unlikely to change many perspectives.

Rated PG-13, 121 minutes.