A touching story pitched in Million Dollar Arm

After a string of decent, so-so, and bad movies lately, Million Dollar Arm finally moved me. It is the based-on-a-true story of a sports agent that starts a reality show in India to find baseball talent. In a time when baseball players are being scouted in most big market countries around the world, agent J.B. Bernstein, played here by John Hamm, looks to India, one of most populated countries in the world that, to this point, has not been scouted. He realizes the sheer number of an untapped fan base there, and sets out to find India’s first major league baseball player. While the trip starts out all about the promise of millions in the future, it becomes something much more.

This is a very heart warming story. John Hamm is fantastic as the cold, business-only sports agent. He treats the 2 teenagers from India as his meal ticket, until his neighbor (played by the up-and-comer Lake Bell, definitely check out last year’s indie surprise In a World, well worth it) makes him realize they are more than just the hope of financial success. They are kids, thousands of miles from the only home they ever knew, in a different and scary environment. The ending left several people in the audience sniffling and reaching for a tissue. It is a very warm movie, great for viewers of all ages. Unfortunately it opened against Godzilla and did not do well this weekend, though with a great Cinemascore (A-) it will probably hold for several weeks longer than expected. This one is well worth a trip to the theater or a family night rental.