Fever Pitch (PG-13, 2005)

common sense media says

Perfectly enjoyable but perfectly forgettable.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie includes some strong and crude language, including at least three jokes about male sexual organs. There are sexual references and non-explicit sexual situations including (spoiler alert) a pregnancy scare. Characters drink (Ben tells Lindsay one thing he likes about her is that she drinks) and (briefly) smoke.

Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence: Tense scenes.
Sex: Sexual references and non-explicit situations, brief crude humor.
Language: Some strong and crude language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drinking, brief smoking.

More on Fever Pitch

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the fine line between being a fan and being a fanatic. They could discuss the ways that caring deeply about a team, a star, a movie, or a video game, can make people feel like they are part of something, especially when they share those feelings with friends. How were Lindsay's feelings about her job like Ben's feelings about the Red Sox?

What's the story?

What's the story?

In FEVER PITCH, Ben (Jimmy Fallon) is a high school teacher who happily explains his priorities on ESPN: The Red Sox, sex, and breathing. When Lindsay (Drew Barrymore) meets Ben, it's wintertime, and he's a sweetheart of a beau who takes tender care of her when she has food poisoning and reminds her that there's more to life than her job. By the time he has to explain why he can't go to her parents' party because he has to be at spring training, she already likes him enough to ask herself whether she can live with "summer guy" for half the year.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The only thing surprising about this completely conventional big studio date movie is that it comes from the joyfully outrageous Farrelly brothers and the literary but widely-read Nick Hornby. The Hollywood studio de-flavorizing machine has toned them down and flattened them out and the result is perfectly enjoyable but perfectly forgettable. This is not a HA-HA movie. It is a chuckle/awww/chuckle/awwwwwww movie. Fallon and Barrymore are adorable and seem to get a genuine kick out of each other.

We know where this will all end up. The only surprise in the movie is the one everyone already found out about when the Sox won the World Series. On the way there are some distractions -- some are pretty funny, like the brief scene where Ben decides which of his friends get to use his sensational seats in Fenway Park, but most are a complete waste of time, like the scenes with Lindsay's friends and family. This gives it a dragged-out feeling, like the movie has gone into extra innings.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Ione Skye, Jimmy Fallon
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: April 8, 2005
DVD release: September 13, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: crude and sexual humor, and some sensuality

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

horselover326
teen, 18 years old
 
I think I got dumber watching this movie
Ok so maybe it wasn't horrible. I was never much of a romantic comedy person but this movie was very dull. It was kinda cute but I thought it was weird that that guy was obsessed with the red sox. I mean I knew that's what the movie was supposed to be about but that was all the movie was about red sox, red sox, red sox!! I felt like I'm not even a baseball fan so why am I watching this movie?? And I love Drew Barrymore too so I expected a little more of the movie

Shoopingspree92
teen, 14 years old
 
Spoliers!!!!!
In one scene, Lindsay (Drew) gets hit in the head by a foul ball. Lindsay mentions she is late on her period. Making out and shirtless men are visible In one scene, one of Ben's friends are shaving his balls, but nothing is seen. Overall...Great movie!

Luna11099
kid, 13 years old
 
Good movie
There are positive messages because he decides that (Spoiler Alert!!) loving people is more important that his favorite baseball team. He decides to make positive sacrafices.

katiemay017
teen, 17 years old
 
FEVER PITCH is AWESOME!
I LOVED this movie 1 because I LOVE Drew Barrymore and 2 because the RED SOX are my FAVE team.i thought it was great. and had a good plot. so Red sox fans or Drew fans u should really see this movie!

 
FUNNY!
it was awsome and funny

 
I loved this movie
I tihnk this film is great! Maybe not a kid movie but a good movie for teens and adults.

tobymac520
teen, 18 years old
 
Fever Pitch
This is such a funny movie! It is amust-see for any humor-loving people! Also if you like the Red Sox watch this movie! It is good.

 
Sweet and fun
Warm and charming, with characters we all cared about. Some sexuality, but not enough to be concerned about my 12-year-old daughter being there.

 
so-so movie
This movie had potential, but after a while I just got bored

fargle
teen, 15 years old
 
MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME!
This movie isn't that bad, I saw it when I was about 8. Loved it. I Bought it when I was just turning ten. The sexual content is the biggest issue. And that's not even alot. Plus, I got every joke they made on that subject. Bottom Line: 13+

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age