Million Dollar Arm (5/16/2014)

Rated PG for mild language and some suggestive content.

Starring Jon Hamm, Bill Paxton, Lake Bell, Suraj Sharma and Alan Arkin

Directed by Craig Gillespie

Disney, a true story about sports and John Hamm, what more could you ask for? Did I mention that they played for the Pittsburgh Pirates?

In a last ditch effort to save his career as a sports agent, JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) concocts a scheme to find baseball’s next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a Major League Baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called “Million Dollar Arm.” With the help of a cantankerous but eagle-eyed retired baseball scout (Alan Arkin) he discovers Dinesh (played by Madhur Mittal from Slumdog Millionaire) and Rinku (played by Suraj Sharma from Life of Pi), two 18 year old boys who have no idea about playing baseball, yet have a knack for throwing a fastball. Hoping to sign them to major league contracts and make a quick buck, JB brings the boys home to America to train. While the Americans are definitely out of their element in India — the boys, who have never left their rural villages — are equally challenged when they come to the States. As the boys learn the finer points of baseball — JB, with the help of his charming friend Brenda (Lake Bell) — learns valuable life lessons about teamwork, commitment and what it means to be a family.

Ok let’s be honest, Million Dollar Arm is pretty predictable. But being predictable isn’t the worst thing a movie can be. Sometimes it’s comforting and enjoyable. What you don’t want is boring. And Million Dollar Arm is not boring. Based on true events, it did a fairly good job of keeping me engaged even though I knew exactly where it was going every step of the way.

So maybe I’m the only one who does this, but I usually watch these “true stories” with my iPhone open to Google and/or Wikipedia. Credit Director Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Tom McCarthy for staying true to the story. And what a powerful story it is.

Hamm, as well as the rest of the cast, all give strong performances…but would you expect anything less from John Hamm?

I know I am a sucker for a good, true story about a sports underdog, so I’m not surprised that I thought this one was “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Yes this one is fine for the entire family…with older kids.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. What did you think of JB when you first met him?


2. What changes did you see in JB?


3. Have you ever been accused of being selfish?

Read Philippians 2:3

Do nothing selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.


4. As you think of areas in your life where you are selfish, what can you do this week to work on those areas?