‘Million Dollar Arm’ Review: A Moving Interpretation of an Incredible True Story Absurd ideas in a country that obeys no systematic rules or consistency can become unexpected successes. As if completely disconnected from the pace of the world, India is structured as a collection of illogical and baffling contrasts both economic and cultural. Hollywood has learned to milk this mythical land of pungent flavors and exotic dances, most recently with films like Slum Dog Millionaire, in which an Indian young man wins a contest and changes his life. This year, another feel-good story is banking on the unlikely chances people there have to make their dreams tangible. Based on a truly incredible story, Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” hits all the right emotional notes without being too preachy and portrays an acceptable imperfect version of the main character, which is rare. Down on his luck and desperate to keep his business afloat, sports agent JB Bernstein (John Hamm) comes up with a random idea to build a new profitable bridge between aforementioned Asian nation and the American sports industry. As he and his business partner of Indian origin, Ash (Aasif Mandvi), watch cricket, JB instantly sees the potential in those players to play baseball in the big leagues. Using a series of convenient lies that leave very little room for error, he enrolls a rich investor and USC coach Tom House (Bill Paxton) to turn a couple of kids right out of India into professional players. Bernstein embarks into a multi-city trip all across India launching the eponymous contest “Million Dollar Arm”, which encourages young boys to take a stab at baseball to see if they can become the next legendary pitcher. With the help of the perpetually sleepy sports scout Ray Poitevint (Alan Arkin), he finally runs across two raw talents: Dinesh Patel (Madhur Mittal) and Rinku Singh (Suraj Sharma). The former worked in his father’s business with no real hope to ever be anything more, the other was in school with a similarly uncertain future. Finding them was just the opening chapter of JB’s odyssey; he soon realizes that they are more than an investment and that his obsession with his career goals has blinded him. But he will only notice this thanks to his tenant/prospective girlfriend Breanda (Lake Bell). Stepping out of his acclaimed role in Mad Men, Hamm shows a keen talent for a softer, yet equally selfish character. JB is torn between his responsibility to deliver professionally and the lives of these two boys who are away from home trying to make him proud. He has essentially become a father figure for them, and he is not entirely ready for such peculiar family unit. Added to this, there is Amit (Pitobash Tripath) an Indian male that dreams of becoming a coach and whose hopes are also placed on the boys. JB takes him under his wing as well forming like this an endearing brotherhood. One thing to highlight is the fact that Hamm also imbues his impersonation of JB with the negative aspects of his personality, including his selfish outlook on life at first. Providing genuine comedic relief and charm, as she usually does, Lake Bells plays the romantic interest that is actually well developed. She is not impressed by money or material success, despite her job in medicine; she takes the time to appreciate the little things JB has missed. Overall the film is familiar territory. It is an underdog tale that has an added bonus because the subjects are alive to testify that the events, as farfetched as they sound, actually occurred. Still, “Million Dollar Arm” contains enough untainted admiration for the human spirit and the ability for people to still be kind to each other, that one can’t help but to fall for it. Even if it relies on a few touching clichés to enhance the drama, the performances and the family appeal work in favor of what the film wants to be: a moving reinterpretation of people living under outstanding circumstances. Who wouldn’t want to live in a world where a person can go from the streets of a poor town in the middle of nowhere into the spotlight, based entirely on sheer talent and passion? That’s a nice thought. Even if it only lasts for a couple hours, this is a chance to briefly inhabit such a world. “Million Dollar Arm” will hit theaters nationwide on May 16.
