Million Dollar Arm

Well there certainly is a trend starting, isn't there? Hollywood is spitting out movie after movie based around not only a sport, but the managing side of the sport. We saw Moneyball take in its successes thanks to amazing performances, a thoughtful script, and a cool direction style that kept the excitement of the sport with the suspense of the management. And that opened the floodgates for movies like Trouble With The Curve, Draft Day, and now, Million Dollar Arm.

There's only one way I can describe Million Dollar Arm - fluffy. Really really fluffy. There is never a sense of conflict or drama. At no point do I feel like there's even a minuscule chance of not succeeding. Every bit of conflict is almost immediately resolved with the fluffiest, happiest response imaginable. It's impossible to not have a smile on your face during this movie. But actually, that's what really bothered me. It wasn't only a lack of drama or suspense that did this. But the fluffy characters doing their fluffy things. We see the obnoxious racially insensitive cliche, the tight ass CEO type character who won't take no for an answer, the silly culture shock of a handsome American guy out of his comfort zone, the takes-no-nonsense love interest. It's not just that it's all been done before, it's that it's being done with a sense of pride and such joy at its cliche. It's simultaneously annoying and infectious. 

Jon Hamm is as likable as ever, I gotta give him that. Then again what else do you expect from him. It has to be said that he makes the most of this fluffy script. Obviously he's written to be constantly on the edge of failure, but we don't really get to see his failure. It's hard when you see a huge house and fancy car as "leftovers" from his previous fast-paced life. But this is a great opportunity to show sacrifices. Maybe a scene of him paying his bills. Maybe a scene of him finding something he needs, but being forced to take the significantly cheaper alternative. Why not show his struggle? It's hard when he's getting a fancy fast paced trip to India.

As for our Indian actors (both familiar faces from films such as Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi), they're both fine. But they're both forced to play almost parodies of themselves. We see forced comedic culture shock, both unbelievable and a bit annoying. We get it, they're not from here. Give them a little dignity in their education of American culture. It's particularly annoying from actor Pitobash Tripathy, an actor I am unfamiliar with, but who is forced to play an overly enthusiastic parody of Indian culture. It gets real old real fast. Although it should be noted that he has one of the most heartfelt speeches I've seen in recent sports movies. One that may or may not have brought a tear to my eye. 

Million Dollar Arm is an interesting movie idea with a whole heck of a lot of potential. But it's advertising as the "feel good movie of the summer" are certainly correct, to a fault. There is no drama, and there is no sense of urgency. It works at points, but fails at others. Still, I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me laugh.

Rank - 2.5/5