REVIEW: Million Dollar Arm

This new film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures chronicles the story of JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) and his long shot plan to save his failing agency company by finding an Indian pitcher for Major League Baseball. Initially, the idea was conceived purely to gain revenue--an Indian pitcher in the major leagues would open up a whole new legion of fans in India, and such a novelty would attract media attention and investors to Bernstein's company. Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi) and Madhur Mittal (Slumdog Millionaire) portray the two young boys chosen to accompany Bernstein to America for a major league tryout.

Although Hamm's protrayal of Bernstein is touching, you can't help but notice that the role is a watered-down, modern version of his character on Mad Men, Donald Draper. Like Mad Men, Hamm's character works for an agency, a sporting one, that requires him to do a lot of pitching to his clients (just like in Mad Men), his character is cocky, and dates models (just like in Mad Men), and he is egotistical and a bit selfish (just like in...you guessed it, Mad Men.)

Sharma and Mittal give honest performances as two young boys from one of the most impoverished countries in the world dropped into one of the richest and indulgent countries in the world. Both actors spend most of the film speaking in their characters' native tongues, but bring clear emotion to words most of us in the English-speaking world wouldn't understand. Lake Bell (Boston Legal) plays Bernstein's charming and quirky neighbor, Brenda well, however her apathetic attitude in the film can be sometimes irritating. Alan Arkin also appears in a funny role, playing an old baseball scout; but it's a shame he wasn't in the film more often.

Overall, the film is touching, funny and a great story to tell, but it lacks the inspiration you find in other films of its kind, like Remember the Titans or 42. It also lacks the intelligence you'd find in Moneyball, but still is fun, heart warming and recommended. I give this film a K!