Trouble with the Curve - B

Rated PG-13, 111 minutes

John Goodman, Amy Adams and Clint Eastwood

Gruff Eastwood turn gets a base hit with “Trouble with the Curve”

Clint Eastwood is at a point in his career where he likely doesn’t care what others think (his recent RNC speech is evident of that) but most will enjoy his new baseball film “Trouble with the Curve,” a likable but flawed film that features strong performances and great chemistry. Eastwood is an aging baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves with failing eyesight and forced retirement looming. His uptight but successful attorney daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) tags along on a scouting trip to provide some help and hopefully bridge their estranged relationship, not to mention a possible romance with a fellow young baseball scout (Justin Timberlake). As we know with most baseball movies (see “Field of Dreams," “The Natural” or even last year’s “Moneyball”), baseball is simply a backdrop for dealing with life’s issues, as it is in “Trouble with the Curve,” an entertaining but predictable movie that should please Eastwood’s fan base. Eastwood, for the first time in nearly 20 years, is acting and not directing himself, leaving that to one of his long-time assistant directors, Robert Lorenz in his feature film debut, which could be the reason for some of the film's flaws. The trouble with this “Curve” is the setup seems a little too contrived and predictable, not to mention the romance with Adams and Timberlake is largely nonessential filler.  Still, the performances and the warm chemistry between Eastwood and Adams is the chief reason for the seeing the film. Eastwood has aged nicely into a gruff character actor, and his familiar, grouchy presence is nothing really new, but Adams makes for decent tit-for-tat and a serviceable counterpart. John Goodman, Matthew Lillard and Robert Patrick add sturdy support, though Timberlake is trying too hard after his recent failed romantic comedies. “Trouble with the Curve” isn’t a home run but it is a base hit, providing one of Eastwood's more enjoyable films of the last few years.

Wes's Grade: B