Overcoming adversity. Something people never tire of. We all want the underdog/underprivileged to triumph. Easy to like and cheer for and film studios know that, so many a film uses it. Paramount has now released, for the first time on blu-ray, Hardball was originally out in 2001and features a young Keanu Reeves and Michael B. Jordan along with Diane Lane and D.B. Sweeney and John Hawkes. The film is directed by Brian Robbins (Varsity Blues, The Perfect Score).
Down and out. A young coach and his team. People of different backgrounds coming together for a common goal. People bringing out the best in others. Hope growing out of the most unlikely places. What is not to like? All very watchable elements to this film. Now, this is not a FANTASTIC movie, but it is a flawed one that is very watchable.
Expected elements like Keanu being cool and the young kids being funny are there. What I did not expect was how good many of the performances are. Especially Keanu Reeves. I mean, for a large part of his lengthy career he has been written off as just another handsome guy who could not act his way out of a paper bag. In this film he shows that when the material demands it he can be up to the task. There are several rather emotional scenes, such as the eulogy, in which he is not as wooden as I have seen him.
Most of the story is rather predictable but it does not detract from the cute and funny moments or the overall quality.
