Love has come twice into the life of Ben Wrightman. When he was a boy, his uncle started taking the boy to Boston Red Sox games, and the boy became a fan in the process. The uncle (Lenny Clarke) warned Ben that the Red Sox would only break his heart, as they had every year since 1918. When the uncle died, Ben inherited a prime pair of season tickets, and never missed a home game in 25 years. The tickets are the envy of his closest friends, who bid with each other to join him. As an adult, Ben (Jimmy Fallon) had balanced a career as a math teacher with his passion for the Red Sox - until he met Lindsey Meeks (Drew Barrymore). Ben had treated his honor students to a tour of a local business, with Lindsey acting as the guide. The kids liked the tour, and so did Ben. When Ben goes to thank Lindsey, he asks the young project manager on a date. The timing couldn't be more right for Ben - his beloved Red Sox have just finished another disappointing campaign, so he has plenty of time for her.
Things change, though, when 2004 spring training begins. Lindsey wants Ben to meet her parents (JoBeth Williams, James B. Sikking) at the same time he makes his annual pilgrimage to Red Sox spring training camp in Florida with his baseball buddies. He does atone, however, by joining the parents in a round of golf. In "Fever Pitch," Ben must learn to put the same amount of energy into his relationship that he does into his baseball. Lindsey tries to accommodate Ben's Red Sox obsession, and even attends some games with him. However, Lindsey finds that it's in her best interest to focus her energies on her work, as she's vying for a promotion. Her girlfriends had warned her that Ben seemed too good to be true. After a pregnancy scare, Lindsey wants Ben to give up some of his games for her. Unfortunately, she asks as the Red Sox are fighting to remain in contention for a spot in the post-season. It became a time Red Sox fans will never forget.
"Fever Pitch" is a good look at the difference between the life goals of men and women. It doesn't matter to Lindsey or Ben that she makes more money. She spends the film wanting Ben to channel more of his love of the Red Sox to her. Ben has to learn a commitment to Lindsey does not mean that his life otherwise stays the same. He has to learn a love that runs deeper than a devotion to his team. However, Lindsey has to learn how to compromise as well. She has married friends in the working world, but none of them put in the hours at work that she does. Also, the Red Sox faithful have plenty to say about Ben and Lindsey, and the shocking decision Ben might be making. Directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly do a good job of moving Nick Hornby's book about a soccer fanatic to an American setting.
"Fever Pitch," though, is the most ordinary film the Farrellys have made. The unusual characters and gross humor that normally populate their work aren't present in this movie. While the brothers show they know Boston, they left the screenplay adaptation to the veteran team of Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, who have written for Ron Howard and Billy Crystal, among others. Their work here is solid, but not special or very insightful. It's an entertaining look at baseball and relationships, but I've seen plenty of better movies on both subjects, such as "Bull Durham." I like the scene where Lindsey gets a peek at Ben's bedroom closet and discovers that half of his clothes are baseball jerseys or have baseball themes. The movie has a feeling of fandom, but little real fanaticism. One of the exceptions is the scene where Lindsey and her parents are watching ESPN, and witness Ben express his philosophy on life. I wish the brothers could have found some quirks that could have given the movie more of a Boston connection.
Fallon and Barrymore turn in fine performances as Ben and Lindsey. It's clear that Ben has taken an instant liking to Lindsey, given what he did for her on a first date that wouldn't go the way anyone would want such a thing to go. Yet, he is a boy when it comes to other things that are important to Lindsey. Fallon has fun with the boyish glee of Ben, who wishes he could be more of the man Lindsey needs him to be. His performance is full of good humor, such as the scene where he tells his school's baseball coach he has no interest in being more than a part-time assistant. Ben lives and dies a little each day, depending on the fortunes of his team. Barrymore is just as engaging as Lindsey, a working woman so busy, she takes her laptop to the games. She knows what it's like to be busy, but she needs Ben to share his spare time doing things that she likes. Barrymore and Fallon show what it's like to be a couple learning to adjust their priorities. Red Sox stars Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek, and Trot Nixon make a cameo as themselves, out for a post-game bite to eat while their fans are drowning their sorrows in a loss.
"Fever Pitch" is more than a movie about the love of baseball. It's about taking the love people have in their lives and careers and applying that to the people who mean the most to them. Lindsey enjoys it when the work she does for a client hits a home run, and Ben loves it when a student does the same sort of thing in his classroom. Before he took his place in the working world, though, Ben found his first love in Fenway Park, following a team of men who annually saw World Series glory elude them. Every spring, he began his love affair anew. With Lindsey, Ben has the chance to be in a love that is never out of season. "Fever Pitch" may not hit a home run, but it is a solid hit on my scorecard.
Now, here's a little Hornby trivia, done in the style of ESPN's SportsCenter:
Did you know?
"Fever Pitch" was the first Hornby novel adapted to the screen. In 1997, Hornby wrote the screenplay adaptation to his novel, which starred Colin Firth. His character was a diehard fan of England's Arsenal soccer team.
According to Red Sox super-fan Ben Wrightman (Jimmy Fallon), finding romance is about as likely as his beloved team winning the World Series. But when...More at HotMovieSale.com
According to Red Sox super-fan Ben Wrightman (Jimmy Fallon), finding romance is about as likely as his beloved team winning the World Series. But when...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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