The film largely tells a true story focused on perseverance, redemption, and injustice, sticking to the actual events faced by Brian Banks. Identity themes are present, but character development and narrative arc remain at the forefront rather than being overshadowed by ideology or forced representation.

The story aligns with traditionally non-woke themes: family, personal responsibility, and the struggle for justice. Masculinity and faith are not undermined, but rather affirmed, and there’s little revisionism or subversion of cultural foundations. The film actually calls attention to flaws in the criminal justice system without belittling core social values.

While the film does highlight systemic injustice, it stops short of demonizing alternative viewpoints or reducing characters to caricatures. There’s some emphasis on the flaws of the system, but it doesn’t eliminate the complexity of personal responsibility or plural perspectives.