Movie review: Million Dollar Arm

J. B. Bernstein (Hamm) searches for the next big pitcher.

Million Dollar Arm is based on the true story of a down-on-his-luck sports agent who comes up with the idea of holding a televised competition in India to find a cricket player who could be the next baseball pitching sensation in the United States.

It's a great premise that offers plenty of fish-out-of-water humour, colourful settings and jeopardy -- think Jerry Maguire mixed with Moneyball and Slumdog Millionaire. It also comes with a touch of romance; someone has to teach protagonist J. B. Bernstein (Hamm) a little humility. Altogether it makes for a pleasant, message-laden film that the whole family can enjoy.

Bernstein and business partner Aash are struggling to keep their boutique sports agency afloat and the only way it will survive is if they can find new talent. Flicking through television channels, Bernstein is inspired by TV show Britain's Got Talent and a game of cricket -- the next thing you know, the televised game show titled Million Dollar Arm is born.

Thanks to the support of a wealthy backer, Bernstein has one year to find a potential baseball player in India, coach them up and get them a professional league contract.

The show discovers two fast-pitching young men, Dinesh (Madhur Mittal) and Rinku (Life of Pi's Suraj Sharma). Both come from poor families and don't speak English, and they're brought to America to fulfil Bernstein's plan to save his company. The term "culture shock" was made for Dinesh and Rinku as they experience the feel-good highs and depressing lows that come with underdog stories like this.

There's a touch of Don Draper in Jon Hamm's heavily flawed Bernstein; a self-centred, arrogant man. Hamm probably takes it a little too far; being a tosser for most of the film makes it hard to sympathise with Bernstein's flaws and get on board with his grand mission. The complete lack of interest or respect for India's landmarks or culture is particularly grating.

Thankfully, he's balanced by plenty of very amiable characters, including Aasif Mandvi as Aash, Lake Bell as Bernstein's tenant and love interest who teaches him there's more to life than money, and Alan Arkin who adds some much needed spark as a cantankerous veteran baseball talent scout.

Even though it's based on a remarkable true story, Million Dollar Arm is presented in a largely predictable package aimed at tugging on the heartstrings. It takes a while, but it manages to get there in the end.

Director:

Craig Gillespie

Running time:

124 mins

Rating:

PG (coarse language)

Verdict:

A pleasant but hardly memorable underdog sports flick

- TimeOut