Fever Pitch

—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film pdf
—Spiritual Connections

My wife and I had a “date afternoon� and decided to catch Fever Pitch. It was one of the better decisions we have made recently. Not just because we were the only people in the entire movie theater, and it was like having a giant screen TV in our living room, but because it was a really good movie for a couple to see together. Unfortunately, if you read many of the “Movie Critics� comments on this film you would probably never go see it. The general opinion from many of these “Critics� is that the movie is just a remake of older, and better, romantic comedies (particularly the 1997 Colin Firth film about the conflict a British schoolteacher faces when having to choose between his dearly loved Arsenals [soccer team] and his girlfriend. However, canvass most “Movie Goers� and you will hear a very different story. They love it. And their not all Red Sox fans either. The general consensus I have heard is that this is a fun movie and a great film to take your date, though it might spark some interesting conversations about male and female relationships and priorities. And I can’t agree more.

Though Critics review movies for a living, I have found that when it comes, at least to romantic comedies, that my wife is a better judge of what is a good date movie versus most Critics. She loved it. And so did I.

The movie opens with a quick description of your standard Red Sox fan; which is to say a crazed maniac who, as Jimmy Fallon’s character (Ben Wrightman) is quoted later in the movie as saying, prioritizes life as
1) the Red Sox;
2) sex; and
3) breathing.

Ben is a school teacher who meets the incomparable Drew Barrymore’s character (Lindsey Meeks), a high powered business woman, on a school field trip to her office. Consistent with Fallon’s sports fanatic character, his competitiveness takes over when his students insinuate that Barrymore is out of his league. At first Lindsey turns Ben down. Her normal dates are high powered businessmen, as one of her friend’s points, sort of like dating herself, and is probably why she hasn’t found someone she could have a lasting relationship with. Taking a chance, Lindsey and Ben go out.

The movie continues as Ben, the consummate fan, transforms reminiscent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as baseball’s Opening Day approaches. As Lindsey says later, she knows and loves Mr. Winter, it is Mr. Summer (corresponding to the baseball season) that she can’t deal with. I believe anyone, whose other half has any sort of interest in sports, can probably relate at some level to this situation. The conflict escalates and while Lindsey believes she can deal with Ben’s obsession, it eventually becomes a barrier in their relationship. One factor that makes this film standout from your run-of-the-mill romantic comedies is that it doesn’t as much explore male-female differences, a common conflict in romantic comedies, as it highlights the differences between die-hard fans and, well, everyone else.

How the conflict resolves itself is what makes this movie really worth seeing and provides the true message that, anyone looking close enough, will come away with. Yes, the movie is about fan obsession, but this is just an analogy for passion; which we all have in one form or another. True, this passion may not be sports related, but may instead be a passion for money and material possessions, power over others, or all too common today, an obsession (addiction) with pornography. Yet, while Ben is obsessed with the Red Sox, and Lindsey is obsessed with her work, both learn that where the real passion exists...is in love and sacrifice.

It is only after Ben and Lindsey grasp the extent of their love for one another and are willing to sacrifice what they thought was the focus of their lives for this love, are they able to truly realize the full extent of their passion. That the passion they had was only a placeholder for true passion, love. And this could only be achieved through sacrifice. This truth parallels our own lives. In the midst of all our daily trials and tribulations, our ability to not only survive, but to flourish, comes down to where we focus our passion. We spend our entire lives searching…searching for something to be passionate about that. An object that will respond in kind and return the love and passion we expend. Yet, so often we overlook what is right in front of us. Let me help you here with this. Few people would disagree with the statement that sports fans are some of the most passionate people on the planet. If you watch any college or professional sports event you will assuredly see these same passionate sports fans holding up a variety of signs. And I bet if I asked you what sign is displayed at these events more than any other, you would probably be able to tell me. John 3:16. But can you tell me what this verse is: “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.� Talk about true love and sacrifice! And what makes it even more amazing is that it is available to every single one of us regardless of our past or where we are in our life’s journey.

—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film pdf
—Spiritual Connections