I'll keep this one short, simply because there's not much to say about this boilerplate sports film. Based on the true story of sports agent J.B. Bernstein, Million
Dollar Arm details the signing of the first two Indian
baseball pitchers after a reality show competition. Jon Hamm plays the lead,
and there's some support from Bill Paxton and Alan Arkin, but most of the
(Indian) cast is played by unknowns. It's exactly what you'd expect from a
Disney sports film - there's lots of slow-motion shots of throwing things,
there's humour, derived from the Indians’ unfamiliarity with all things
American (which becomes stale quickly), and there's a dull character arc in
Hamm's arrogant sports agent, who must learn the value of love if he's ever
going to live a happy, fulfilling life. Bleh. Fortunately Hamm employs his Don
Draper-charm and carries the entire film, and there's some good support from
the acerbic Lake Bell, who displayed such promising talent in her debut film In
A World... last year. A pleasant but dull affair. Watch
Moneyball instead.
