Fever Pitch (2005)

Fever Pitch (2005): Dir: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly / Cast: Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore, Jack Kehler, Scott Severance, Ione Skye: Routine but heartwarming romantic comedy about addiction and relationships. It stars Jimmy Fallon as a school teacher who meets ad executive Drew Barrymore during a school field trip thus begins a relationship. Things seem too perfect until spring rolls around and his addiction to the Boston Red Sox baseball team surfaces. Now tension rises as Barrymore stresses over whether their relationship is as important as the game. Great setup travels by formula however the ending is clever and rewarding. Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly who previously made three comic masterpieces in Kingpin, There's Something About Mary and Shallow Hal. Here they don't hit greatness but they do provide the same level of comic emotion thanks to the leads. Fallon is superb as someone who hasn't learned to prioritize with relationships. Barrymore adds to the chemistry with charm and wit. They have fine comic chemistry that is not backed the way previously mentioned Farrelly films have in terms of other characters. Unfortunately the supporting roles are flat and serve mainly as props. Theme regards relationships and recreation and how it can be difficult to address both equally. This is backed with a number of laughs that generates a high batting average. Score: 8 / 10

Wow just wow, I love good rom coms and I'm totally attracted to the lovely Drew Barrymore but I've never been into my baseball at all till tonight and my first viewing ever of a baseball flick aka The Perfect Catch ("Fever Pitch" in the US). I had low expectations knowing who was directing it (I hate The Farelly super gross and vulgar humor that is NOT making me laugh the slighest), the matter (baseball) AND one Jimmy Fallon (who was awful in Whip It from same Mrs Barrymore in 2009).But if there's something I love is to get proved WRONG and winning me over the (good)cause of baseball, Jimmy Fallon acting chops and The Farelly ability to direct and entertain me for just one flick...I've seen bazillions of rom coms in my life and this one is a true gem : it made me smile a lot of time and even managed to make me legit laugh a few good times (especially Drew herself).I was fully entertained from start to finish and enjoyed the amazing chemistry between Drew and Jimmy. To make a legit good rom com you need a number of factors and the most important one is the credibility of the two main actors and thinking they would make a great real life couple.That's the case here, Jimmy is funny AND touching while Drew is as adorable and super attractive as ever...I would have surely loved to be in Jimmy's spot in this movie :DThe casting is solid and even if it's the Barrymore-Fallon show, the other actors are perfect in their roles from the biggest to the most obscure ones like the kids here.Like I've stated earlier, i've never been attracted to baseball the slightest (while being into sports like soccer/football and basket).Even more funny, I tend to enjoy New York and its sport teams so having me not only enjoying baseball BUT also ROOTING for The Red Sox is quite a tour de force and mad props for The Farelly for this.Another hero and standout from this movie out of the two main protagnists is the Boston City,Fenway Park and its perennial residents and of course crazy great supporters.I don't know how many real life Red Sox fans were featured in the movie (I've just finished it and yet to witness the many bonuses from the DVD) but man, each scene with them singing and dancing was an absolute highlight and put a HUGE Smile on my face :)It's simple, I was singing along with them (while discovering the said tunes) and screaming the glory of the old good Red Sox and empathizing for and their infamous "bambino curse" .I don't know (yet) if the Farelly are legit fans of Boston and its baseball team but they shot them in the most beautiful way possible.Not only is this movie a great tribute to a legendary sport team, its stadium and fans but it's also a very enjoyable trip to Boston, MA itself and it gave me the need to go to the US and visit this beautiful City from Northeast America.To conclude, if you're like me, and enjoy either Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, baseball, friendship that turn into love stories, good laughs and a great soundtrack and super catchy anthems, give Fever Pitch US/The Perfect Catch a try.The Farelly totally hit an absolute HOME RUN with this delicious rom-com and will leave you with a big smile on the face and wanting to go to Fenway Park to root for The Red Sox !TWO HUGE THUMBS UP and a vastly overlooked-underrated FEEL GOOD MOVIE For the ages !

Drew was the only good thing going for this film.Her male lead has no appeal - no life, no zing, no sex, no rough...nothing. He is lifeless on screen and every scene with him in it is immediately killed.There are actors I don't like simply because of the characters they play or how they play them...but even though I don't like them, the actors bring life to their roles (Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt).Jimmy Fallon is dead in terms of expression. His eyes, his movements...everything is just wrong. How Drew could be in love with this guy is beyond me...how his mother can love him is beyond me.The story is week, the take-outs on the DVD is just boring and I should have put something else in the tray and hit play.That aside, I think that Drew is great - as always. Just, this movie - as in Lucky You, she has little to work with and little to offer her role.I love ya Drew...but quit making crappy movies.

It's rare, nowadays, to find a romantic comedy that isn't incredibly disgusting in short doses throughout the entire movie (eg. Big Fat Greek wedding; Me, Myself & Irene). There were only a couple of unnecessarily demented jokes in this movie, nothing unpalatably profane. All around, it was a cute movie with likable characters. I thought the ending was a little abrupt. It feels like they should have ended it at the world series for a real bang up finish. The acting left a little to be desired, but was made up for by the pace of the story. If I'd known it was a Farrelly brothers movie I would have assumed it to be a stomach turning piece of garbage and not watched it, but it seems that even they are capable of accidentally making an okay movie. Good for them, I hope they pull their heads out the rest of the way and start consistently making good films.