With Antwone Fisher, Denzel Washington takes the safe road for his directorial debut. It's a familiar story going in a familiar direction attempting to elicit a familiar reaction using a familiar cinematic style. The result? A well-made movie sure to satisfy adult moviegoers looking for an uplifting drama to enjoy and subsequently recommend to friends.

That may sound a bit sarcastic, but I don't mean it to be. Believe me, I was not unmoved by Antwone Fisher, an autobiographical script about one man overcoming his past and personal demons. Caught up in his eventual triumphs, I was sincerely happy for Fisher (played by Derek Luke in a solid debut), for I knew that such a story could only come from someone who has taken strides to know and accept himself from the inside-out. That he would write a movie about himself didn't strike me as arrogant in the least -- it's cathartic, positive, and possibly inspirational.

What Antwone Fisher isn't, however, is original. Watching the first half of the movie, I wondered when it would stop copying Good Will Hunting. The journey begins the same for the protagonists of both movies -- a troubled young man who finds himself getting in one too many fist-fights eventually gets sent to a psychiatrist (played by Washington in his movie). The young man makes it clear that he doesn't give a flying fig about receiving help, so he refuses to speak at the sessions. The doctor obliges him by letting him sit around day after day saying nothing until, finally, swayed by boredom, the patient begins to talk. He opens up slowly -- anyway, this just goes on for a while, with nothing new threatening to shake up the scenario.

Frankly, I'm disappointed that Antwone Fisher doesn't sway too far from Good Will Hunting territory. Fisher even winds up conveniently finding an understanding love interest (Joy Bryant), just as Mr. Hunting did. And, as expected, the combination of support from both the newly accepted mentor and the girlfriend creates just the right amount of push to cause the protagonist to take a good hard look at himself. As director, Washington perhaps made the correct decision to shoot Antwone Fisher in as straightforward a manner as possible, mostly because this drama doesn't require distracting stylistic flourishes. Unfortunately, his decision  only adds to the film's unremarkable nature.

Still, with its tidy storytelling, all-around good acting, and effective tear-jerking, Antwone Fisher does its job. But when I realize that watching certain other movies gives me much the same experience, I can't help feeling let down.

(Review also posted at www.windowtothemovies.com.)

Released by Fox Searchlight and rated "PG-13" for violence, language and mature thematic material involving child abuse.