“Fever Pitch” (20th Century Fox)
There is something about Drew Barrymore that makes any movie in which she appears that much better. It isn’t that she is a raving beauty, or even the best actress on the screen today; but she does have that indefinable something that draws audiences to her. “Fever Pitch,” in which she co-stars with Jimmy Fallon, is proof positive of her magnetic charm.
In this film she plays a young woman named Lindsay Meeks, who lives and works in Boston. Lindsay is caught up in her career and is on the fast track to success. One day a teacher named Ben (Fallon) brings his ninth grade students into her office for a tour. The two of them click and start dating. Everything is going smoothly until Ben reveals his one major flaw – he is obsessed with the Boston Red Sox.
When Ben says he is obsessed, well that is not understatement. This young man would rather die than miss a Boston Red Sox home game. Lindsay doesn’t worry too much about it, at first, but when Ben seems to put the games ahead of their relationship, well then she begins to worry.
Barrymore and Fallon play cute together. She manages to smooth out his mannered acting skills and he makes her even more adorable in the way he watches and responds to her. They aren’t as good together as Barrymore and Adam Sandler were in “50 First Dates” but they are still a compelling pair.
The film is directed by the Farrelly Brothers (Bobby and Peter) of “Shallow Hal” and “There’s Something About Mary” fame. This film is a bit milder and more traditional than either of those, but it still has flashes of the Farrelly brand of humor. It is also based on a book by Nick Hornsby that gives its story a valid base.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and sexual situations.
This movie should appeal to audiences across the board. Females can bask in the warmth of the romantic elements while males can relate to the sports fixation. There are equal doses of each in this comedy and the ending of the movie ranks up there as one of the best we have seen in a while.
Since her debut in “E T” all those many years ago Drew Barrymore has been entertaining audiences with her sweet persona and her solid comedic timing. She is absolutely adorable and you will find her more appealing than ever in “Fever Pitch.” Fallon is good too, while not at her level yet.
I scored “Fever Pitch” a hundred degree 7 out of 10.
