Million Dollar Arm is a movie that I experienced with 24 amazing bloggers in Los Angeles. After breakfast, we loaded into the vans and headed for Disney Studios.
I was invited to this event by Disney as part of a media event. Accommodations and other expenses were paid for in exchange for my coverage of the event, but all opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.
Arriving at Disney Studios we were ready to see the movie in the Frank G Wells Building.
I am the furthest thing from a baseball fan. When Jake was four he won tickets to see the Marlins play. We went and wow! Baseball is one of the LONGEST sports to watch in person. So? Going into Million Dollar Arm I was a tad apprehensive.
I remember attending a movie with my kiddos back home and seeing a preview for Million Dollar Arm. I put it in the back of my mind on that list of “maybe we’ll try this one”. After all, it has a cast of A-Listers including Jon Hamm, Bill Paxton, Lake Bell, the guy from Life of Pi (Suraj Sharma) and that other fellow I remember from Slumdog Millionaire (Madhur Mittal).
When the movie rolled, my attention was immediately captured. It started off without a lot of lull in trying to get to know and love the characters. They were personable and similar to the people in my life.
I couldn’t decide whether to like or dislike Jon Hamm’s character, JB Bernstein. He’s on the brink of losing everything! His dreams about to be snuffed out.
JB Bernstein is a sports agent. He’s left the security of an agency and is trying to make a name for himself in the industry with his business partner, Ash (who is played by Aasif Mandvi). They have all their chickens on one athlete.
Then, somewhere between Susan Boyle and a Cricket game, life hands him an idea that if he can pull off, will put him back in the game.
He heads to India where he’s confronted by thousands of cricket players who throw a baseball, like you and I do–mediocre at best. Days into the Million Dollar Arm, still searching for someone…anyone…who can pitch a baseball, he encounters Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel.
Million Dollar Arm is the journey that takes them from that moment. Two young Indian boys in a culture that’s so different from their own…their families on the other side of the world and a Sports Agent who hasn’t really planned out the reality of bringing the boys to America. They’re dollar signs to JB Bernstein, while he is Rinku and Dinesh’s everything!
I absolutely love this movie. The adventure is humorous at times. I found myself cheering for the underdogs and having my heart bleed with love for Rinku and Singh and their dedication to a dream they never knew existed.
It’s love in its simplest form.
It’s a whisper of a dream and the souls that dig deep to realize they’re enough to make it happen.
It’s a love story of sorts. One between a man and woman. One between strangers. More importantly, it’s a love story about learning to love one’s self.
The instant Amit (played by PitoBash) appears on-screen you will laugh out loud and leave knowing you can never have enough of him.
Lake Bell plays Brenda in a role that will make every woman proud. She is tough, knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to point out the flaws she sees in JB.
The one thing you must know is this is based on a true story. It’s a story that will amaze you. It’s about two young boys who have never heard of baseball, never picked up a baseball and seeking to play for the Major Leagues. What happens will surprise you, but it’s the journey that will steal the show! .
Million Dollar Arm is playing in theaters today everywhere. Take your family to see Jon Hamm in Million Dollar Arm. It does not disappoint. Find showtimes and tickets here.