Home Run (2013)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: David Boyd

Cast: Scott Elrod, Dorian Brown, Charles Henry Wyson

Running time: 113 minutes

Cory Brand is an alcoholic, just like his dad was. Now a pro baseball player, his definite talent for the game is marred by his destructive behavior on and off the field. After his latest incident got him suspended by his team, Cory is sent by his agent back to his hometown to take part in a publicity stunt. On the way there, Cory is involved in a car crash, where speed and alcohol was a factor, which leaves his brother badly hurt. The fallen hero is then forced to enter a 12-step program and to do some community service, by coaching a young baseball team.

The message of this film comes at you like a baseball straight in the middle of the plate, that you can see coming a mile away. This is a movie with a Christian theme where a man with demons is forced to surrender himself to a higher power to find redemption. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but, at least, the filmmakers are clear in their intentions here.

Home Run is not a bad film in itself. The cast members are all mostly unknown, except maybe for Vivica A. Fox, but they all do a decent job. For this genre, I have seen so much worst. The story is also compelling, though you can clearly see the strings. The tender and harder moments are highlighted in a major way with sappy music. And, in the end, everything seems to come together a little too easily. Nonetheless, this is one of the better sappy Christian feel-good movies you can find.

Rating: «««