Ball 4!
Fever Pitch
Review Review by Ross Anthony

"Fever Pitch" seems to me a clever title for a film about baseball and falling in love. However, the pace and over all drive of the film prove this title quite the misnomer. Instead of a resonating vibration, or a high intensity energy, "Fever Pitch" is a mellow, laid back kind of picture. And while it is pleasant enough, it seldom sparks hearty laughter or tugs too strongly on a heartstring.

Both leads deliver adequate performances in an average film, produced and directed with mediocre quality. That said, the central idea of the film is refreshing, curious and a strong basis for a romantic comedy. Basically, Jimmy Fallon plays a rock solid, die-hard, yes-obsessed Red Sox Fan. Other than that, supposedly, he's a fine enough, likeable enough, good looking enough guy for high-powered, success-minded, business beauty Drew Barrymore.

The basis for tension: Just how much can Barrymore accommodate Fallon's over-the-top need to be at EVERY Red Sox game, before she bursts?

While some attempts at the cute or funny fall flat, others really are either cute or funny or both. There's a very cheap shower room gag that busted my gut. Still, the film will more likely be remembered for the light romance than the comedy. Lastly, the plot flip flops once too many times.

Red Sox fans would probably find a way to appreciate more than me.

Interestingly enough, the picture was filmed at the famous Fenway Park in Boston while the Sox were playing. Here are some fun excerpts from the production notes: "Just when it seemed like the magic had reached its crescendo, the unthinkable occurred: The Red Sox started winning, making one of the most incredible comebacks in baseball history. In 2004, the Red Sox won the World Series. ... During production, the Farrellys set up two monitors while they worked, one that showed the scene they were filming, the other that televised the games. Red Sox Fever, already a contagious force on the set, became an epidemic. ... And suddenly, the original script ... had to go into rewrites. The Red Sox, the world's perennial underdogs, were going to the World Series."

This film screened at a Krikorian Theatre.


  • Fever Pitch. Copyright © 2005.
  • Starring Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon.
  • Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly.
  • Screenplay by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel.
  • Produced by Alan Greenspan, Gil Netter, Nancy Juvonen Bradley Thomas at 20th Fox.

Grade..........................B (2/4)

Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.

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Last Modified: Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 08:10:53 PDT