Review: ‘Trouble with the Curve’ Familiar but Comfortable Territory

Last updated on: September 21, 2012 at 9:09 am by Rebecca Cusey

Review: ‘Trouble with the Curve’ Familiar but Comfortable Territory 2012-09-21T09:09:22-06:00 Rebecca Cusey

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Clint Eastwood’s latest movie Trouble with the Curve is neither as daring as the last time he was onscreen in Gran Torino nor as ambitious as his directorial take on the afterlife in Hereafter or politics in J. Edgar.

But with exceptional acting and a workman-like story, Curve is still a solid movie about family reconciliation and baseball that is worth seeing.

Eastwood acts under the direction of Robert Lorenz, who has a long history of collaboration with Eastwood as an Assistant Director, including on Oscar winner Million Dollar Baby.

Gus (Eastwood), a scout for the Atlanta Braves, makes a living watching high school and college players to see if they have what it takes to join the majors. He loves baseball and his daughter Mickey (Amy Adams), perhaps in that order. Mickey, raised on the road and in sports bars, also loves baseball but has chosen the path of the law. She is up for partner at her prestigious firm.

But when old age and weakening vision threaten to send Gus out to pasture, Mickey decides its her daughterly duty to take care of the old guy, even if he never took particularly good care of her. She packs her bags for one last roadtrip, taking leave from her high-pressure attorney responsibilities. She wants to take care of her dad, sure, but she also wants some answers on his distant and sometimes downright absent style of love.

On the road, the pair meet up with the old guard of baseball scouts who knew Mickey as a kid. But there’s a new guy, a handsome new guy, named Johnny (Justin Timberlake). Recruited by Gus back in the day as a player, he nurses his career ending injury with the salve of still being on the field as a scout.

There’s little doubt where all this will head. Mickey is a darn fine scout in her own right. Gus is an old codger with a soft heart. And Johnny? Well, he’s the only non-septuagenarian in sight.

The joy of this film is not in shocks, but in watching Adams, Eastwood, and Timberlake elevate scenes that would be melodrama or cliche in other hands. As Johnny and Mickey start to fall for eachother, they do so with chemistry that is missing from most bigger romantic comedies. When Mickey tries to connect with her dad, her quiet vulnerability and his blustering defensiveness feel natural and believable.

With a few mild swear words and light sexuality, the film is rated PG-13. There’s one scene in which the two young adults strip down to underwear to take a night dip in a lake, but it is neither explicit nor implied sexual activity. It would be a fine film for teens to watch.

The greater love story is between father and daughter who, despite their inability to show affection to each other, both just want happiness for the other.

Their journey beyond pain into closer relationship is as sweet as the sound of a ball on a bat.

Trouble with the curve

Previous Post

September 20, 2012

Watch: Extended Feature on singing Les Miserables

Next Post

September 21, 2012 Review: 'The Master' is 137 Minutes of Excellently Executed Boredom

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Becky's Picks Children's Movies DVD releases Entertainment News Faith on Film Featured Hunger Games In Theaters Interviews Life, Etc. Mixed Nuts Movie Reviews Poliflix Scroogewatch slider Television Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was turned into a pillar of salt?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ruth Lot Naomi Lot's wife