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It seems as though a new inspirational sports drama hits theaters about every other week. But no matter how many of these formulaic films you’ve seen in the past, they still tend to be surprisingly effective—especially if they happen to be released by Disney, like Craig Gillespie’s behind-the-scenes baseball drama, Million Dollar Arm.
Million Dollar Arm is based on the true story of J. B. Bernstein (Jon Hamm), a struggling sports agent who’s desperate to find a successful new star to keep his small agency afloat. Inspired by his Indian partner, Aash (Aasif Mandvi), and his love of cricket, J. B. hatches a plan to travel to India to host a televised competition, searching for the best cricket bowlers to be trained to play baseball in the States.
J. B.’s highly publicized search finds two young prospects, who then leave their tiny villages and travel to Los Angeles, eager to learn the sport and make their new boss proud.
It may tell a story about an unconventional approach to recruiting athletes, but Million Dollar Arm still plays by the inspirational sports movie rules. There aren’t a whole lot of surprises to be found here, but the formula has become a formula for a very good reason: it works. And as you watch this unlikely story play out, you’re sure to find yourself invested in the characters, cheering them on as they face each new obstacle.
At times, though, the film overplays the stereotypes, turning the Indian characters’ lack of experience with things like escalators and pizza into a running gag. They have a number of mishaps involving common modern conveniences, and it sometimes seems as though the film is encouraging the audience to laugh at their sheer foreignness. Still, the two eager young players give the film its irresistible charm. They’re earnest and industrious. They’ve taken a terrifying risk: traveling from their small villages to a big, foreign city, hoping to give themselves and their families better lives. And, faced with a daunting challenge in a strange new place, they handle it all with quiet determination. So while the outcome may be predictable, even the most cynical viewers will enjoy following them on their journey.
These young characters are so lovable, in fact, that they steal the spotlight away from Hamm. He may be the film’s big-name star—and, for many viewers, its biggest draw—but his character’s generally cool, businesslike approach makes him bland and unremarkable. J. B. is a shallow, insensitive workaholic whose only hobby is dating models. And though he does (of course) redeem himself in the end (with a whole lot of help from his down-to-earth neighbor, Lake Bell’s underappreciated Brenda), he isn’t a particularly likable character.
Million Dollar Arm isn’t the perfect sports drama. The long, uneven story isn’t as moving or as memorable as Miracle, and Jon Hamm won’t earn an Oscar for his performance. But the lovable characters and their against-the-odds story make it a successful family-friendly feel-good drama.
Listen to the audio review on Reel Discovery:
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