Fever Pitch (1997)
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Fever Pitch (1997)
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Fever Pitch is a British romantic sports comedy -- with strong language, smoking, and sexual references -- based on an autobiographical novel by Nick Hornby. Set in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, Paul Ashworth (Colin Firth) is a London secondary school teacher who struggles to reconcile his lifelong love of soccer with his romantic relationships. This includes fellow teacher Sarah Hughes (Ruth Gemmell). Paul does his best to care about others but is frequently undone by his selfish tendencies. There is little diversity and some dated discussions about gender roles, with the movie showing very few female soccer fans. Paul and Ruth are shown in bed together but with no graphic nudity. As part of their relationship, Paul and Ruth discuss whether to have a child, which includes them talking about pregnancy and abortion. Violence doesn't feature, although there are some references to injury and death. Language is strong and constant, with frequent use of both "f--k" and "f---ing." Characters also drink and smoke frequently, including a pregnant woman. The film was remade in 2005 but was set in the U.S. and featured a baseball fanatic as opposed to a soccer fan.
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What's the Story?
FEVER PITCH follows soccer-mad teacher Paul (Colin Firth) and his unlikely romance with colleague Sarah (Ruth Gemmell).
Is It Any Good?
Adapted for the screen from his own novel by British writer Nick Hornby, this autobiographical tale about an obsessive soccer fan was remade into a similar story about a baseball fanatic in 2005. This original version of Fever Pitch finds Firth and Gemmell in the lead roles and the film is rewarded with good chemistry between the pair. Their performances and some quick-witted dialogue are enough to carry its slightly uneven story about a man trying to grow up and find a balance between his love of sport and the woman in his life.
Of the two of them, Firth's Paul is the better-drawn character, with Gemmell's Ruth largely passive. The movie also leaves unanswered the question it poses in one scene about whether some women truly share their partner's passions, or are forced to take an interest to have something more in common with them. Penning the story around the dramatic end to the 1989 first division English soccer season does at least kit out Fever Pitch with a climactic ending, though, while some laughs are also thrown in along the way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationship between Fever Pitch's two central characters. How were Paul and Ruth similar but different? Why did this make it difficult for them to get along and how was this played for dramatic and comic effect?
Talk about the strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Discuss Paul's relationship with soccer. Why was it so important to him? How did the flashback scenes to his childhood emphasize this?
How were women portrayed in the movie? Did you find it problematic? If so, why?
How was drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why is that important?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 15, 1999
- On DVD or streaming: November 28, 2000
- Cast: Colin Firth, Ruth Gemmell, Mark Strong
- Director: David Evans
- Studio: Phaedra Cinema
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Book Characters
- Character Strengths: Communication, Compassion
- Run time: 102 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Last updated: November 29, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Fever Pitch
Enjoyable baseball-centered romcom has language, sex.
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Bend It Like Beckham
Superb tale of a girl's struggle for her dreams.
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Gregory's Girl
Sweet, low-key '80s Scottish romcom has nudity, language.
For kids who love sports
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