I don’t like Jimmy Fallon.
I don’t like sports movies (only because the ending is too predictable and makes for a less fun movie).
I can say I like Drew Barrymore as an actress and I like the Boston Red Sox.
Oh, did I mention I don’t like Jimmy Fallon? (I know I take a lot of heat for that.)
With all that being said, with an exception for Drew, I must say after watching Fever Pitch, I am glad to say my foot is in my mouth.
Fever Pitch shocked me in how brilliant it was. It was a movie I wasn’t running out to see and I second-guessed myself the moment I bought the ticket.
Walking out, I’m glad I was convinced to go see it and happier I did see it.
Fever Pitch is based off a novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, who wrote High Fidelity.
In this version, English school teacher Ben Rightman falls for Lindsay Meeks. Everything is swell and going perfectly but (because of the trailers) everyone knows what Ben’s fault is.
He’s not a cheater or drug dealer or anything really life changing. He’s a die-hard fan to a cursed team; by die hard they mean it. Everything from his shower curtains to his pajamas is some type of Red Sox commodity.
Lindsay must do something to show Ben that the Red Sox aren’t the world, but will Ben listen?
As stated earlier, this movie shocked me. This movie isn’t a sports movie as the trailer might have made it seem. It fact, the Red Sox played less of a role than I thought. The movie focuses on the relationship and love of Ben and Lindsay; the Red Sox just so happen to be in there.
Fallon plays the perfect role. Trying to think of someone else to play Ben, I couldn’t. Fallon must have done research on playing a teacher because everything he did in that movie, right down to his clothes, was very much like a teacher.
In some cases he was Fallon, but for the must part he was toned down and played a well-developed, 30-something teacher in love with an obsession. This movie was a step in the right direction for Fallon and what may be the beginning of a long movie career.
Barrymore was also excellent in her role as Lindsay. Being in many romantic/comedies, she pretty much knew how to play the role.
I think what made it work, even more so, was the fact that she was playing a 30-something as well. It wasn’t a role where she is suppose to be 20-something. This is a funny concept because Barrymore just turned 30 this past February.
The thing is, she has done so many romantic movies that I would like to see her do something else. For this though, she was great.
The story of Fever Pitch works on many levels. Being a semi-big sports fan, this can sometimes cause a problem for my wife and me (such as, the NCAA finals that happened last week).
However, it is not just sports that this can relate to. A hobby can sometimes get in the way of a relationship and cause tension; granted, not as bad as in the movie, but then what fun would the movie be?
The movie also works on the level of time and closeness. Lindsay’s character has little time do to her job and Ben wants her to be a part of his life in every way, which includes the Red Sox.
Most of all, though, this story works because you feel for the characters and the situation they are in. You feel for Ben and Lindsay and hope that everything will be OK.
Fever Pitch is cute, funny, and is worth the price of admission.
Considering I didn’t like Fallon, that’s saying something.

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