Warner Brothers Pictures
2001
Rated: PG-13
Now on video and DVD
Ryan Dunne wants to make this the best summer of his life. It's his last chance to become a pro baseball player and his first chance to find love.
Ryan Dunne (Prinze) doesn't want to mow lawns for the rest of his life, he dreams of becoming a pro baseball player. Living in Cape Cod, home of the best amateur baseball league, his chances of being discovered should be great, but he's his own worst enemy. He chokes at pivotal moments and his pitching is inconsistent. This is his last chance to achieve his dream, but a rival pitcher and his own self-destruction may keep him from tapping into his true talent unless Vassar beauty Tenley Parrish (Biel) can convince him he's got what it takes to pitch a no-hitter and make the best Summer Catch of all...her.
What to say, what to say? I always root for the underdog. Always! That's why Bad News Bears is one of my favorite films (and a far better baseball movie than this one!). Crucify me if you will, I'm probably the only reviewer to admit this, but I actually like Freddie. He has an undeniable amicable charm and like I said, I always root for the underdog and that's exactly what Freddie is. He's striving to get into more adult roles, but his earlier movies were better. The scripts are getting worse! The poor man needs some help picking out a strong script. His fiancée is a savvy woman, maybe she can help him out. Let's hope so! Summer Catch is one of the weakest films he's done with one of his strongest performances. There was a little more acting range for him in this one, but the pace was slow, the script weak, cliched and predictable and there were of course a great number of gratuitous shirtless scenes. I had sincerely hoped he'd hit this one out of the ballpark and into his detractors faces, but instead he armed them with more ammunition. I will of course remain the true optimist I am and hope the next one will be his best, but if strikes were being counted I'm sure an ump would be crying, "Yeeeeeerrrrrrr, out!" As for Jessica Biel, she did little more than be supportive and sweet. 7th Heaven's Mary Camden is a much juicier role.
That being said, let me tell you what the few saving graces of this film were--beyond the obvious cache of eye candy. Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) was hilarious as Miles, the man who adores big honeys, newcomer Corey Pearson was intimidating and impressive as the egotistical Van Leemer, Gabriel Mann (Josie and the Pussycats) was terrific as Ryan's fun-loving and loyal best bud, Auggie, Matthew Lillard (13 Ghosts) was his usual loud and proud self with some of the movies funniest lines and Brittany Murphy (Don't Say A Word) did what she always does, steal the show.
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