“Trouble with the Curve” Has Trouble Making Sense

This film was a lineup of heavy hitters that just couldn’t quite get there…trouble with the curve, indeed.

Clint Eastwood plays an older baseball scout who is going blind and has a complicated relationship with his daughter, played by Amy Adams, who has come with him on his last trip. For good measure, they also threw in Justin Timberlake and, let’s not forget, the ever-convincing twist in the plot that in no way comes out of left field.

Eastwood, who is the supposed to be the ace of this film, is great at playing an old, grumpy, man struggling with showing emotion – except that that is the exact same role he has played over and over again.

“Gran Torino” was a masterpiece that showed the curve of one man’s journey. This was nothing like that. His jokes fell flat and he never had an actual journey, just went from being a jerk to (sort of) not being one. Are we pretending that he is old enough to be her father and not her grandfather? Give us another disgruntled one-liner, since you seem to have a million of them.

The standalone performance was Adams’, who is so cool, so ballsy, and sounds so sweet doing it. She is independent but vulnerable and, like every character should, learns something and begins to change. She talks, walks, and drinks with the boys and she truly likes it. She represents a modern woman who doesn’t mention marriage or babies, but just wants to beat the boys at their own game.

In the film she is constantly pushing and pulling with her father. Playing the line between over-barring and letting things go, she makes a line drive to our hearts with her analyzing and, finally, questioning of her father’s actions.

Bringing in Timberlake to attract women and a younger crowd was a nice attempt. He is really, really likable, but he almost trips over his charm. Did they finish the plot and just toss him in later? He is nice to look at and is sort of funny, just like in any interview he’s ever done, but he needs to stick to music and interviews with Conan. He adds nothing to the film and just continues the circle of abandonment in the poor girl’s lineup card.

Playing the villain is Matthew Lillard, but that hardly even works because he is so goofy…you know, the guy from “Scream”? His purpose is to push technology and not the “old man’s” instincts. And guess what happens?

Keeping John Goodman on deck was a great idea. He played a half-assed good friend, who, yet again, half-assed cared about Adams’ character. He needs some pine tar to get a grip on this storyline, which was utterly lacking in believability.

The majestic baseball movie you’re looking for never shows up. They spend the same amount of time in bars as they do next to the field.

A missed opportunity to show off this beautiful country and the traditions of the game, this movie is a no-hitter and has “rent later” written all over it.