THE PERFECT CATCH
US, 2005, 104 minutes, Colour.
Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, James B.Sikking, Jo Beth Williams.
Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly.
If Hollywood was going to do a remake of the popular novel by Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity), would they ask the Farelly Brothers to do it? The answer would probably be a resounding no. The Farrellys started their successful careers with such broad (very broad) comedies like Dumb and Dumber, went slightly up-market with There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself and Irene. Admittedly, they were much more gentle in their recent comedy, about Siamese twins, Stuck on You. Although there is a sickness sequence near the beginning of Fever Pitch, you would not pick this as a Farrelly Brothers film. It must be that they, like all Americans, just love baseball.
Originally, this was a British football story with Colin Firth as the fanatic teacher-fan. Now, it has been transferred to Boston, the team is the Red Sox. The film makes much of their long (very long) running streak of defeats, the devotion of their followers as well as their resignation to losing. (And by serendipity, as the film was being shot, the Red Sox actually won the league championship). Instead of the rather uptight Firth, we have Saturday Night Live’s Jimmy Fallon (who made a strangely alienating impression in Taxi with Queen Latifa). Here he is better cast as the fan who never really grew up, whose life is baseball – whose church, as he says, is baseball. (Jimmy Fallon became a very successful late night television show.)
The point, of course, is: how can you be a lifelong fanatical supporter when there is more to life than baseball (impossible as that might sound to the fan). Here, life comes in the form of workaholic and ambitious Drew Barrymore. They both fall in love and have to find out where baseball finds its rightful place in a marriage.
For non-Americans, especially those who have observed baseball in many a film but who would not travel to a field of dreams, this film is not as involving as the makers would hope. But, with its light touch and comic aspects, it makes a cosy romantic comedy.
1. An entertaining romantic comedy? The attractiveness of the stars, credibility of their characters and performances?
2. Boston story, baseball, the Red Sox, fans and their devotion, the games and play? The contrast with the business world, offices, executives, promotions?
3. The Boston settings, apartments, business world? Restaurants, bars and clubs? Fenway Park, the grounds, the seating, the play? The musical score? Songs?
4. The adaptation of a British football story? To the US, to baseball? A still valid story?
5. The prologue, Ben, young, his parents, his uncle, taking him to the game, the explanations, his becoming a fan, the gift of the seats, growing up fan – and fanatic?
6. Ben, as a character, maths and teaching, the students, taking them to the company, the tour, meeting Lindsay, the attraction, his going back to thank her? The date? His past relationships, the girlfriends falling foul of his devotion to the Red Sox?
7. Lindsey, the bond with her parents, her hard work, the secretary, at the office, the visiting executive and his being attractive? Her ambitions, liking her work, the possibility of promotion? Her girlfriends, the gathering together, chatter, the rivalry and the touch of cattiness?
8. Accepting Ben’s bends invitation, the outings, their talking, compatible, her being attracted? His liking her, loving her?
9. The reality of his being a fan, the matches, the seats, every summer with the same people around, the comments about play, his taking Lindsay, her learning about baseball, talking with the friends, Ben and his behaviour, even excessive?
10. The crisis about the party, her parents, his going to the spring training in Florida, the behaviour of his friends, on television – and her father thinking he was a fool? The visit, his charm – and his helping the father with golf and to become a member of the club?
11. Lindsey, the agreement to go to the games, the effect on her, her knowledge? It becoming wearing, the need for worktime, the interviews? Not going to some of the games, their agreement?
12. Ben and his friends, the discussions, the system whereby they got tickets from him and games to go with him? Their advice?
13. Ben, his decision to go to the party with Lindsey, foregoing the game, not wanting to hear what was happening, going home, the perfect day, getting the food – and the phone call, the fact that the Red Sox had won, his outburst, the touch of bitterness, her being hurt?
14. The effect on Lindsey, keeping to herself, with the girls, the girlfriend becoming pregnant, the chatter, discovering that the girlfriend’s husband was going to buy Ben’s tickets? Her being called to the promotion party, coming to the realisation that Ben loved her by being prepared to sell the tickets, her leaving, going to the game, the scalper, getting through the guards, hanging from the deck, the glasses and seeing Ben’s signing, running across the field, being intercepted, her manoeuvres, tearing up the contract, the kiss and everybody applauding?
15. If Ben was prepared to give up the tickets, she would be prepared to give up her time, compromise, love, happiness?
