I was prepared for a fairly predictable story when during the opening scene, the alcoholic father of a young Cory Brand, holding a bottle of beer in one hand, threw nineteen straight strikes against his son while berating him for being unable to hit a pitch against a former Double A minor league hurler. The guy was a jerk, just like that Coach Pejersky (Drew Waters) managing the Little League team against the Omulkgee Bulldogs. The picture demonstrated what passes for often seen behavior at ball games that should be played for fun, but often turns into a spectacle because of the parents and not the players. It's rewarding at times to watch a picture in which no major celebrity appears so the focus can remain on the principals who try to overcome the obstacles in their life and become a better person. Some will find the overt mention of God and faith to be overbearing, though I'm fairly sure there are real life situations that rely on the kind of rehabilitation experienced by Cory (Scott Elrod) and other members of a spiritual group like Celebration Recovery. The film has it's share of baseball related scenes, and Cory's approach to coaching his team's youngsters can be well appreciated in direct counterpoint to his egotistical behavior as a major league ball player. I did find the opposing traits in his character to be somewhat unbelievable, but the spirit of the picture carries through for a final reconciliation and recovery of Cory's career. See the film more for it's message than for it's baseball theme, as the home run aspect of the title is ancillary.
Review of Home Run
