Steve Rhodes
April 7th 05, 11:58 PM
FEVER PITCH
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2
FEVER PITCH, a romantic comedy about a pair of lovers with different
obsessions, stars a never prettier Drew Barrymore and a rarely nerdier Jimmy
Fallon. Barrymore plays Lindsay, a charming but not especially convincing
workaholic, who is said to work ninety hours a week but seems to have ample
spare time.
Much more convincing is Fallon as Ben, a forty-year-old Peter Pan figure who
is idolized by his ninth grade honors geometry students and a man who, since
the age of seven, has worshiped at the Fenway Park altar of the Boston Red
Sox. Lindsay hits the nail on the head when she says that Ben's apartment
looks exactly like a Red Sox gift shop. From spring training to the last
inning of the season, Ben and his buddies live their lives around the Red
Sox schedule. As a member of Ben's "summer family" -- nearby season ticket
holders -- puts it perfectly, "relationships come and go, but the Red Sox
are forever."
FEVER PITCH, based on a novel by Nick Hornby novel (HIGH FIDELITY and ABOUT
A BOY), concerns the trial and tribulations of Ben and Lindsay, as they have
to compromise in order to keep their relationship going. Hornby's book,
upon which the movie is based, set the action in England with the sport
being soccer. Fallon was fairly convincing but never particularly likable
or compelling, and, if there was ever any real chemistry between Fallon and
Barrymore, I didn't notice it.
Still, I laughed frequently, and the movie is cute, even if not especially
memorable. It is definitely better than its first reel, which is pure
sitcom. But, being a big fan of Hornby's work, I left more frustrated than
satisfied. Directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly (STUCK ON YOU) made a fairly
likeable movie, but, given their source material, it should have been an
easy home run. Instead they scored on a walk.
FEVER PITCH runs 1:41. It is rated PG-13 for "crude and sexual humor, and
some sensuality" and would be acceptable for kids around 9 and up.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, April 8, 2005. In
the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century
theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email:
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A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2
FEVER PITCH, a romantic comedy about a pair of lovers with different
obsessions, stars a never prettier Drew Barrymore and a rarely nerdier Jimmy
Fallon. Barrymore plays Lindsay, a charming but not especially convincing
workaholic, who is said to work ninety hours a week but seems to have ample
spare time.
Much more convincing is Fallon as Ben, a forty-year-old Peter Pan figure who
is idolized by his ninth grade honors geometry students and a man who, since
the age of seven, has worshiped at the Fenway Park altar of the Boston Red
Sox. Lindsay hits the nail on the head when she says that Ben's apartment
looks exactly like a Red Sox gift shop. From spring training to the last
inning of the season, Ben and his buddies live their lives around the Red
Sox schedule. As a member of Ben's "summer family" -- nearby season ticket
holders -- puts it perfectly, "relationships come and go, but the Red Sox
are forever."
FEVER PITCH, based on a novel by Nick Hornby novel (HIGH FIDELITY and ABOUT
A BOY), concerns the trial and tribulations of Ben and Lindsay, as they have
to compromise in order to keep their relationship going. Hornby's book,
upon which the movie is based, set the action in England with the sport
being soccer. Fallon was fairly convincing but never particularly likable
or compelling, and, if there was ever any real chemistry between Fallon and
Barrymore, I didn't notice it.
Still, I laughed frequently, and the movie is cute, even if not especially
memorable. It is definitely better than its first reel, which is pure
sitcom. But, being a big fan of Hornby's work, I left more frustrated than
satisfied. Directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly (STUCK ON YOU) made a fairly
likeable movie, but, given their source material, it should have been an
easy home run. Instead they scored on a walk.
FEVER PITCH runs 1:41. It is rated PG-13 for "crude and sexual humor, and
some sensuality" and would be acceptable for kids around 9 and up.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, April 8, 2005. In
the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century
theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email:
************************************************** *********************
Want free reviews and weekly movie and video recommendations via Email?
Just send me a letter with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.