The Great Debaters is pretty much exactly what you would expect it to be, which means it isn’t disappointing, but it doesn’t transcend the limits of its genre either. In his second stint behind the camera, Denzel Washington seems intent on showing that his range as an actor does not necessarily apply to his work as a director: He likes his films solid, formulaic, and generically positive. The film hits all the right notes of uplift and underdog celebration, and the performances are all spot-on, especially the serendipitously named Denzel Whitaker as a future civil rights leader in the thralls of adolescent awkwardness. But, even if we’ve seen this all before, Washington does it well enough to justify the repeat visit. (UA Amarillo Star Stadium 14, Amarillo, TX)