Shopping for shoes with my grandfather was very easy. He'd just put on a shoe and then immediately give a verdict. Either "That's not my shoe" or "That's my shoe." Obviously the pair earning the latter report was wrapped to go.
And it appears to be that way with Kevin Costner and movies about baseball. They just seem to fit. In Costner's latest dabble on the diamond, "For the Love of the Game," he plays Billy Chappel, a pitcher in the twilight of his career. At the outset of the film Billy is having a particularly bad day, in fact, his day makes a country music song sound chirpy.
His girl friend leaves him, his team has been sold and he's about to be traded, plus, he's old, he's tired, his arm hurts, So with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Billy drags himself into Yankee stadium to face the vicious New York fans.
And we're right there on the mound there with him. Privy to every utterance he uses to psych himself into hurling killer pitches. As the game progresses, a series of flashbacks unfold the story of Billy's career and romance. To be glib, his life flashes before his eyes as he faces a momentous decision in his career. Should he go, or should he stay?
The result is remarkably entertaining, even though it's somewhat formulaic. There is enough drama built in to at least keep you pondering the possible story line options the film might follow. By the end, though, the film was almost too schmaltzy to maintain credibility--I mean how much sentimentality can we take without just a flicker of cynicism?
Still, there are far less enjoyable ways to spend a couple of hours than watching Kevin Costner do what he does well. And if he fits the movie like a cozy slipper, it's nothing to the fit of John C. Reilly as Gus, Billy's friend and catcher. I also enjoyed Kelly Preston's portrayal of a 90's woman caught somewhere between strength and vulnerability.
In short, For the Love of Game gets the nod from me. Like buying really expensive shoes it's probably a tad too self-indulgent, but every now and again a wallow is good for the soul.