Million Dollar Arm Review

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We had the chance to see Disney’s Million Dollar Arm a bit early so we could write a review. Both of the boys have been wanting to see it so the three of us went.

Here’s the synopsis:

Based on a true story, sports agent JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) finds that business has changed and things aren’t going well for his career. In a last ditch effort to save his livelihood he concocts a scheme to find baseball’s next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a major league baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called “The Million Dollar Arm.” With the help of cantankerous but eagle-eyed retired baseball scout Ray Poitevint (Alan Arkin), he discovers Dinesh (played by Madhur Mittal from “Slumdog Millionaire”) and Rinku (played by Suraj Sharma from “Life of Pi”), two 18-year-old boys who have no idea about playing baseball, yet have a knack for throwing a fastball. Hoping to sign them to major league contracts and make a quick buck, JB brings the boys home to America to train. While the Americans are definitely out of their element in India, the boys, who have never left their rural villages, are equally challenged when they come to the States. As the boys learn the finer points of baseball, JB, with the help of his charming friend Brenda (Lake Bell), learns valuable life lessons about teamwork, commitment and what it means to be a family.

Overall we really liked the movie and left smiling. It was definitely a feel good family sports movie. Both of the boys and I really liked the storyline and loved getting to see parts of India in the beginning.

Even though it’s only rated PG I’d say it’s still best for the older kids 9+ as there is some adult content (a mention of sex and over night stays, drinking etc) and might be a little slow for younger kids. The movie is more about the agent than the players which I think could lose a lot of the younger kids’ attention. I think it’s a great sports themed movie that’s much more appropriate for tweens than most movies of it’s type.

My boys loved the sports aspect of the movie and watching the players’ journey. If you have older kids even if they aren’t sports lovers I think they’d still really enjoy the movie!

See more on the Million Dollar Arm site and Facebook page.