Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) is a gritty, old school baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves. Although his successful years and draft choices have made him a well respected authority in his field, as younger people and computer stats take over, Gus’s eyesight and reputation are beginning to fail him. Lobel has one last shot when the Braves’ General Manager (Robert Patrick) sends him to assess a young batter as a number one draft pick.
Lobel’s slightly estranged daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), is made aware of Gus’ issues, but as she is slated to make partner in her law firm any day, she is reluctant to step off the fast track— and onto her proud father’s toes. Mickey’s love for the game and for her father win out eventually and she forces her way onto the scouting trip, making a last-ditch effort to save her father’s career and their flailing relationship.
Along the way, the pair picks up Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake)—a former draft pick of Lobel’s and now a fellow scout. Timberlake’s effortless charm serves him well as Mickey’s smooth-talking love interest, but a romantic chemistry never seems to develop between the characters. In contrast, the friendship between Timberlake and both Eastwood and Adams appears genuine, as if we are accidentally dropping in on their actual conversations. Eastwood’s delivery is unusually spot-on, each hard-ass comeback landing with well-timed accuracy. (Whether this is the result of the editing, the directing, or simply Eastwood, himself, it works—his lines deliver). Adams, as always, lends credibility and charisma to her role, but unfortunately, she does not have much more to work with. The characters in this film develop no further than the personalities and struggles initially presented.
Trouble with the Curve is not a sports movie, but a typical estranged parent-child story in which both seek to learn and overcome the reasons why their relationship doesn’t work. The film contains many amusing scenes and its attractive cinematography keeps the audience immersed in an enjoyable trip. However, the inconsistent tone of the film gives the impression of a romantic comedy that, every once in awhile, seeks to be something more.
Article comments
1 - Igor
My impression is that Clint has embarked on a series of movies to prove that he's not just a trigger-happy vigilante, but also a caring feeling human. Good luck with that.
2 - Chuck
Great review. A little late in the game for Clint to be trying to expand his range. It's too bad they had to drag baseball into this - depending on the emotional bond a lot of men have to the game to get a sub-par movie over with its intended audience is something Kevin Costner tried (and failed) to do more than once, and this movie is no different. No matter how cute Amy Adams is, it doesn't work.
3 - Stephanie Kroneiss
I agree about the way they used sports in the film. Although I am not a sports fan, myself, I easily get drawn into movies where the characters’ lives and the game are intertwined. I can’t help getting caught up in the “winning game” and even get an strong understanding of why many people follow sports to begin with. However, this wasn’t that kind of movie. The use of sports simply acted as a backdrop, and using baseball, in particular, seemed a attempt to appeal to the specific type of audience they were trying to attract (older, all-American, etc.). I also agree with the Amy Adams comment. No matter what you’re watching, you’ll end up liking it while she’s on the screen because she just has that amazing presence - but it wasn’t enough to hide the fact that the movie needed so much more.