It's a good thing that "Men of Honor" came along when it did, or the whole film industry might have forced Cuba Gooding Jr. to give back his Academy Award.

Once upon a time, Gooding seemed like one of Hollywood's brightest young talents, but then he followed up his Oscar-winning supporting role in "Jerry Maguire" with annoying turns in films like "Instinct" and "Chill Factor."

And even if his performance in this biographical drama is not the equal of his "Jerry Maguire" work, at least it reminds us that the man can still act.

Unfortunately, that doesn't make the film any better.

Though based on a true story, it's safe to assume that the real-life events depicted in "Men of Honor" didn't occur as neatly or conveniently as they do in this hastily assembled hodgepodge.

In fact, the only reason it's as watchable as it is, would be because of the fine lead performances by Gooding and Robert De Niro as the title characters, two U.S. Navy men who join forces because of their dedication and sense of honor.

At first, that doesn't seem to be the case. Carl Brashear (Gooding) is the first black student accepted into the Navy's Dive School, which rankles quite a few higher-ups, including Billy Sunday (De Niro), a Master Chief Navy Diver who runs one of the training programs.

Sunday makes it his personal mission to flunk out Brashear, who has to suffer through the master chief's constant taunts and harassment. But Brashear perseveres, having made a promise to his late father (Carl Lumbley) that he would make it.

Slowly but surely, Brashear's level of commitment begins to win over some of the others trainees, including a program washout (Michael Rapaport) — and Sunday. But letting him actually graduate could be too bold a move — one that could destroy both their careers.

Part of the problem here is that the film can't decide what it wants to be. At times, it seems to be a character piece with aspirations of social commentary. But then it wavers as it becomes a buddy movie, a feel-good flick and a courtroom drama.

The film also tries to tell at least one story too many. For simplicity's sake, it should have stuck to Brashear's tale rather than also following Sunday.

And Scott Marshall Smith's overly ambitious script reduces important events to quick snapshots, and also reduces high-profile co-stars like Rapaport, Hal Holbrook, David Keith and even Charlize Theron to celebrity cameos.

Not that they would have had much time onscreen anyway. For all his storytelling mistakes, director George Tillman Jr. ("Soul Food") wisely understands that his focus should be on Gooding and De Niro, who are very good when their characters are on together.

If only they were in a better movie . . .

"Men of Honor" is rated R for frequent strong profanity, wartime violence and some brawling, use of racial epithets, brief graphic gore and some salty talk (using sexual slang terms). Running time: 128 minutes.

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E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com