Plot: What’s it about?
Ryan Dunne (Freddie Prinze Jr.) has watched countless players from the Cape Cod summer leagues move on to fame & fortune, neither of which he has ever had. His father mowed the lawns of the local rich families and also the main field, so Ryan was able to be out on the field often, even if just as a lawn service worker. But as he grew up, he discovered that he had some real talent and after a while, he was able to join up with the Chatam A’s, the team that plays on the field he used to mow with his father. Of course, he has dreams of the big leagues and becoming a baseball star, but the team is loaded with drafted talent, so it won’t be that simple of a task. In addition to an unsupportive older brother and arch rival on his own team, he is now distracted by a beautiful young woman named Tenley (Jessica Biel). She comes from a wealthy family and her family would disapprove of Ryan being her boyfriend, so she hides it from them. This bothers Ryan, but he tries to keep a clear head and if he wants to succeed, that’s just what he needs to do. But with his big chance on the horizon, can Ryan hold it all together and win when it counts?
This is the kind of movie where you should know what to expect, so I don’t understand the bad vibes some folks send toward Summer Catch. I mean, you can tell from the trailer and cast list that this is going to be a light, fluffy movie in all respects. So why expect deep performances, complex plot movement, or stuff like that, since the flick never even pretends to have those elements, even for a second of screen time. Perhaps it all boils down to Freddie Prinze Jr., as some people hate him and others enjoy his efforts, I happen to fall in the latter realm. I don’t think he is a great actor, but he picks roles that suit his skills and as such, fans can be sure his projects will appeal to them, since they’re all so much alike. So if you’re looking for cerebral exercise, then Summer Catch is not the movie you want, but if you’re looking for another light teen aimed comedy/romance, then this one is more than worth a look. And since Warner has included some nice supplements, this one is more than recommended.
Oh that Freddie Prinze Jr., he continues to be bashed by critics & audiences, yet all these people continue to patron his projects. I’m not sure why that is, since for the most part, if you like one of his movies, then you’ll probably like them all. I happen to be a sucker for teen movies and Prinze is the main male players in that realm, so I’ve enjoyed most of his pictures. His skills aren’t polished enough to move into more traditional cinema, but so long as he chooses his roles to fit his range, he’ll continue to make successful movies, I think. Prinze breaks out his usual array of wide eyed, open mouth glances, with some goofy faces mixed in, just for good measure. Other films with Prinze include She’s All That, Boys and Girls, Head Over Heels, Hostage High, Down to You, The House of Yes, and Wing Commander. The cast also includes Matthew Lillard (SLC Punk, Scream), Jessica Biel (Ulee’s Gold, I’ll Be Home For Christmas), Brian Dennehy (Presumed Innocent, Tommy Boy), and Brittany Murphy (Drive, Freeway).
Video: How does it look?
Summer Catch is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The image here is terrific, but some minor issues keep it from getting to that next level. The print looks clean most of the time, but some grain is evident in some scenes, which is not part of the visual scheme, I can assure you. But the grain is thin and never much of a distraction, so I won’t knock the score much, especially since the rest of the elements look excellent. The colors come across in bright, vivid hues and flesh tones look good too, always natural and consistent. No issues with contrast either, as black levels seem stark and refined at all times. In short, this is a superb visual effort with some small flaws, but not enough to be concerned about.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is more than solid, but due to the material involved, never gets much chance to shine. As Summer Catch is driven by dialogue and not impact based audio, the front channels shoulder much of the content, so there’s not much in terms of dynamic presence or surround action. The musical soundtrack livens things up a bit and so do some of the in game scenes, but on the whole, this one takes place in the front speakers. This is not bad however, as the scope there is rich and expansive, while dialogue is clean and clear throughout. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some talent files, ten deleted scenes, and an audio commentary with director Michael Tollin & writer John Gatins. The two offer a candid, but sometimes promotional session and while they do pat each other on the back often, the track has some cool information and still worth a listen. In addition to these two, some comments are made by star Jessica Biel, though she isn’t present most of the time, sadly.
