Million Dollar Arm (2014)

A struggling sports agent is at the end of his rope, which forces him to get creative and try a gamble no one has ever tried before. He figures that he needs a new and upcoming baseball star pronto, but where would one find one. Then he figures that India as a country is a huge untapped market and surely he can travel there, hold auctions and find someone who's able to pitch a mean ball.And from thereon out it's the tried, true and patented Disney sports film formula played to death in front of your eyes. You know exactly how the story is going to go from minute one. Sure, it's not a kid's film per se, so the main character is allowed to be a bit of a jerk and there can be scenes where people are not covered from head to toe in conservative clothing, but it's still squeaky clean and safe. And I have nothing against the Disney formula, but it still means that the film is very much paint by numbers.That being said, the film is based on true events, which gives it a bit more oomph. India as a country is given a fair treatment, the two Indian baseball players given a chance to break into the American leagues are a lot of fun, the main character is likable despite or perhaps because of his jerkiness.Would I recommend the movie to anyone? Perhaps if I knew they were a die-hard baseball fan... Other than that, probably not, I have to admit.

I guess Hollywood has run out of film ideas concerning the prejudice black people suffered in various sports so now they have turned to the inspiring true story of people from cricket loving India trying to break into professional baseball.Jon Hamm plays the struggling sports agent who hits upon an idea of launching a talent contest to find baseball talent in India and then bringing them over to the USA and train them for the major league.The film has location shooting in India as Hamm tagged along with a snoozing Alan Arkin looks for pitchers with the right throwing arm. We have scenes of Mumbai, Agra with the obligatory Taj Mahal.When he finds two pitchers we have the cultural clash as they try to adapt to life in the States as well as impressing the big league scouts as Hamm and his partner stave off money troubles.The film has a side plot of Hamm trying to sign a major league player which echoes Jerry Maguire right to the bit where the player signs with a bigger agency as Hamm is diverted to look after his other charges.There is nothing original in the story. In fact it's downright predictable with only the idea of getting players from India being novel. It also felt too long which led me to believe the film was padded.Jon Hamm and Aasif Mandvi give a lot of conviction as the struggling sports agents. Suraj Sharma and Madhur Mittal have the right balance of sweet eyed innocence, young people leaving a village life in search to hit the jackpot in the lottery of life.

Another year, another attempt from the studios to bring out a feel-good sports film. In 2014, they have succeeded with, "Million Dollar Arm," a movie based off factual accounts. I really liked this movie for a variety of reasons. I am always fascinated by Indian culture, and the movie shows the Bollywood culture to a true extent. Baseball is my favorite sport, and just seeing people learning to play the game is pure delight. The film itself is provoking, as well as intelligent, funny, and just a well-crafted movie despite its predictable outcome. Craig Gillepsie's film is about a sports agent who is down on his luck and is losing money fast. His final play involves starting a program to teach Indian cricket players baseball so they can be scouted by MLB. But J.B Bernstein finds out it is a lot harder than he thought as these Indian players must get used to a foreign sport and an alien culture. Jon Hamm does a great job in the lead role as J.B. Sure, his character is self-centered, but Hamm plays him well. Lake Bell had a few great scenes as a possible romantic interest of J.B. Alan Arkin cracked me up as the grumpy elderly scout. I also liked Suraj Sharma who know delivers back-to-back Hollywood performances with this film and "Life of Pi." Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Million Dollar Arm. It's a fun, clever sports movie that has a typical Disney "feel-good" tone to it. I also liked the culture clash that is presented in the movie between the Indian and American cultures. The film presents an unique opportunity to learn about Indian culture and I appreciated that. A funny, entertaining sports movie. My Grade: A-

Womanizing JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) and Aash (Aasif Mandvi) are small sport agents struggling against their former employer Procorp. After watching Aash's cricket game and Susan Boyle, JB comes up with an idea to get pitching arms from India for the LA Dodgers owner Chang. They convince Tom House (Bill Paxton) the highly improbable task to train the amateurs. Brenda (Lake Bell) is his winning medical student tenant. Vivek is his local manager. With eager Amit Rohan and sleepy scout Ray Poitevint (Alan Arkin), they run a $1 million reality contest.This is a fine underdog sports movie. I like the kids' stories. I wish they expanded more on their lives. Jon Hamm is a bit too intense and he needs a bit more humor. Lake Bell is terrific. The movie is also restricted by the real story. The boys could never go to the World Series. They also didn't crash and burn. They end up in a middling area where they get some success but not enough to be good climax material. The movie is also too long at over 2 hours but it has a good solid base of an underdog movie.