TROUBLE WITH THE CURVEBlu-ray Review
(PG-13)
MOVIE: *** (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5)
“Trouble with the Curve” available on Blu-ray Combo pack, DVD and for download 12/18!
BY KEVIN CARR
Even thought “Trouble with the Curve” wasn’t a favorite film of mine in 2012, it was one of the more pleasant surprises I saw in the theater. (Other surprises include “Pitch Perfect” and “21 Jump Street,” which I liked far more than I ever thought I would.)
The film tells the story of an aging baseball scout whose daughter goes on a scouting trip with him to help him out lest he get fired by the team. It’s less about baseball than it is about the relationship between a father and daughter, trying to reconcile their differences and uncover the reasons their lives were so strained in the past.
Part of what worked with “Trouble with the Curve” was it featured Clint Eastwood as an actor and not a director. As awesome of a filmmaker as he has been over the past decades, he’s slowed down quite a bit. There’s an energy that director and Eastwood protege Rob Lorenz brings to the project that Eastwood really doesn’t have any more.
What also makes “Trouble with the Curve” work is the romantic sidestory with Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake. Both are very likeable actors, and they bring an otherwise routine romance to a higher level.
Lighthearted and fun, and only falling into cliches near the end, “Trouble with the Curve” is a perfectly charming movie that you can watch with your father or any other older male member of your family (at least in the most stereotypical way).
The Blu-ray of “Trouble with the Curve” may have a better-than-expected movie on it, but it’s pretty slim when it comes to bonus material. There’s only two featurettes included on the disc. “Trouble with the Curve: Rising Through the Ranks” spotlights director Rob Lorenz and his career working with Eastwood. “Trouble with the Curve: For the Love of the Game” takes a look at the chemistry and on-screen relationship between Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake.
As is becoming common with most releases, the Blu-ray also comes with a DVD and UltraViolet streaming capabilities.