Million Dollar Arm

This film has all the charm of its lead actor John Hamm. So it has charm and lots of it. Sometimes it has so much charm you feel it is unfair on other less charming movies but such is life.

Million dollar arm tells the true story of a struggling sports agent JB Bernstein (Hamm) and his business partner Aasif Mandvi played by Ash Vasudevan looking for the next big thing. Having a sure fire big income baseball start deal fall through at the last minute it looks as if their business might fold. That is until Bernstein stumbles upon the idea of going to cricket mad India and seeing if it is possible to turn one of their bowling wonder kids into a fully fledged big league baseball pitcher. This is done in the form of a reality TV competition. A competition designed to find a million dollar arm.

This film is not just a feel good movie but a very feel good movie. It is part American idiot lost abroad in a country he doesn’t understand, part redemption and part dreams can come true. All the cast turn in great performances. Pitobash Tripathy as Amit Rohan, a baseball fanatic hired by Bernstein is very funny. The innocence of the two competition winners taken to the states is touching. Hamm excels in his role and despite the character flaws you find yourself rooting for him all the way.

Equally as charming is Lake Bell playing the romantic interest. Less charming but all the more charismatic for it is the ever excellent Alan Arkin, the scout that goes to India with Hamm. It is fitting that Arkin is in this film as it has the feel good factor of Little Miss Sunshine, another film he appeared in. If you are in a bad mood this film will make you feel better. If you are in a good mood then this film will make you feel even better. Go and enjoy and prepare to have your spirits lifted.