Summer Catch (2001)

You know, it's really amazing what horrible forms of torture one will subject themselves to when there is nothing else on the TV late in the evening on a Sunday night. Such is how I was exposed to Summer Catch, a schlocky, predictable, "feel-good" vomit-fest starring the worst actor of our generation, Freddie Prinze Jr.

Summer Catch is the story of Ryan Dunne, a poor lawn-boy whose dream is to play professional baseball. Dunne qualifies for the Cape Cod summer league, a semi-exclusive league which doubles as a haven for being "discovered" by Major League scouts. Early in the season, Dunne falls in love with Tenley Parrish (Jessica Biel), the daughter of one of his rich lawn-care clients.

This is one baseball movie that has more cliches than Darryl Strawberry has drug arrests. The girl encourages the guy to achieve his dreams. The rich dad tells the girl she can't see the poor guy. The guy chokes in his big game. Then, the guy gets a second chance...with both baseball and the girl.

I don't think I'm really spoiling anything to reveal that the cliches all climax into the ultimate cliche: everything works out fine for everyone involved and they all live happilly ever after. Whoopity-doo.

The only reasons that this movie got any points from me are for the following reasons (one-point alotted for each): (1) The movie featured baseball, the best damn sport in the world. (B) The movie featured Jessica Biel, who although she possesses marginal (at best) acting skills, is still totally hot. And, (3) the movie features a song from local Pittsburgh rock favorites The Clarks -- a small excerpt during an early scene, and in its entirety over the closing credits. I just wish for them their song would have been used in a better movie.

So, if this movie is ever on late on a Sunday night when there is nothing else on TV, go to bed, watch SportsCenter (it's always on), or carve out your eyes with a dull spoon. Yes, even that is better for you than Summer Catch.