Friday, May 16, 2014

Disney's "Million Dollar Arm" Scores a Homerun!


"Million Dollar Arm" is the Feel Good Movie of the Summer





Every once in a while, a movie comes along at just the right moment in your life that touches your heart, touches your soul and you walk out of the theater feeling so uplifted that you know everything is going to be alright with the world. That out of the chaos that can ensue in our everyday lives, there is still goodness to be found and happy endings to be lived. “Million Dollar Arm” is just such a movie.  I have to admit that any movie that describes itself as a baseball movie, has me hooked right from the start but within moments into this, I knew that although the setting and backstory for “Million Dollar Arm” may have been baseball, this was a movie about living your life and finding yourself and accepting the curve balls life those at each of us each and every day.  It’s about growth, about change and about being true to yourself and being the best version of yourself, even when at times the lure of being not quite your best self would be so much easier to do. Oh and there’s baseball too.  

 For those not familiar with the backstory, Walt Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm”   is based on the true story of sports agent JB Bernstein played to perfection by Jon Hamm. Berstein finds that business has changed and things aren’t going well for his career. In a last ditch effort to save his livelihood he concocts a scheme to find baseball’s next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a major league baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called “The Million Dollar Arm.” With the help of cantankerous but eagle-eyed retired baseball scout Ray Poitevint portrayed by the incomparable Alan Arkin, he discovers Dinesh (Madhur Mittal from “Slumdog Millionaire”) and Rinku (played by Suraj Sharma from “Life of Pi”), two 18-year-old boys who have no idea about playing baseball, yet have a knack for throwing a fastball. Hoping to sign them to major league contracts and make a quick buck, JB brings the boys home to America to train. While the Americans are definitely out of their element in India, the boys, who have never left their rural villages, are equally challenged when they come to the States. 

As the boys learn the finer points of baseball, JB, with the help of his charming friend Brenda, charmingly brought to life by Lake Bell, by learns valuable life lessons about teamwork, commitment and what it means to be a family.  The movie says that “Sometimes in order to win, you have to change the game”, especially when the real game happens to be the game of life.  “Million Dollar Arm” definitely scores a grand slam on all accounts and is definitely the feel good movie of the year, and one that will stick with you long after the popcorn is gone.  “Million Dollar Arm” is now playing in theaters nationwide.  I guarantee you’ll walk out with that warm and fuzzy feeling that will stay with you for a long, long time to come. 



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Gayle is a lifelong educator by day and avid blogger by night and is the owner and cofounder of the Disney Gals, one of the most popular Disney blogs around! Proud mommy to 5, Grammy to 4 she is blessed to share her life with amazing family and friends who encourage her to chase her dreams no matter where they may lead.  When not in the classroom, she can be found following her son as he dances his way through life, or working with young performers in free nationally recognized after school children’s theater program that she founded 13 years ago. On any given day you will find Gayle skipping her way through life with a giggle and a smile knowing that today is meant to be lived and enjoyed. To learn more about Gayle, click here.

2 comments:

  1. Soooo excited to watch it! Thanks Gayle!

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  2. I have not had the chance to see this gem yet, but my own reviewer did and loved it. I think we have the feel good movie of the summer on our hands!

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