Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Home Run

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for some mature thematic material.

Reviewed by: Andrea McAteer
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Excellent!
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Teens Adults Family
Genre: Christian Sports Drama
Length: 1 hr. 53 min.
Year of Release: 2013
USA Release: April 19, 2013 (limited)
DVD: October 8, 2013
Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Filmsclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Provident Films

sin and its consequences

life spiraling out of control

driving while intoxicated

healing from addiction

how to find from freedom from one’s past

how to find hope for the future

redemption

faith

serving others

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Discover the good news that Jesus Christ offers
Featuring Scott Elrod … Cory
Dorian Brown … Emma
Charles Henry Wyson … Tyler
James Devoti … Clay
Nicole Leigh … Karen
Drew Waters … Pajersky
Robert Peters … J.T.
Vivica A. Fox … Helene
Elvin John Rosa Jr. … Stanton
Sami Isler … Kendricks
See all »
Director David Boyd — “Get Low,” “12 Rounds,” “Cast Away,” “Joyful Noise”
Producer Hero Productions
Impact Productions LLC
See all »
Distributor
Provident Films

“Freedom is posssible.”

“Home Run” is a powerful film about love, hope, redemption, healing and recovery. Scott Elrod stars as Cory Brand, an all star baseball player with a serious drinking problem. After getting suspended from the team for his behavior, he is forced back to his home town in Oklahoma to make amends, but, instead, encounters more dire circumstances. With his career and reputation on the line, his agent makes a deal for him to attend an eight week recovery program and fill in for his brother as coach of a little league team.

As Cory fights his demons from childhood, we see a man, hurt and broken, unable to help but turn into the same type of man his father was. While coaching, his love and talent for baseball wins over the hearts of the children and reintroduces him to an old love. This is Cory’s second chance to be the man God wants him to be, and turn to God for healing.

What I loved about this movie was seeing the depth in the person of Cory. When you see him react as he did in the film, you can shake your head, think that person is hopeless, angry and flying off the handle. As the viewer, you know where that behavior is coming from. He’s a broken man. He’s hurt and doesn’t know how to handle what life throws at him, because he didn’t have the love and acceptance of his father. You can truly feel for him, because, in a sense, he’s every man (or woman). He’s real. He isn’t a glossed over, perfect person. Does that excuse his drunkenness or his behavior when he is angry? No. But it gives insight into where it comes from, and that is one of the ways I think this movie is far more realistic than many others.

Yet, we can all take heart in the fact that God is there for all of us, and He can heal the brokenhearted and make us whole again. Psalm 34:18 says “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (ESV). Cory’s relationship with his father was not a good one, but he realizes that trying to fill the hole in his heart with alcohol and worldly behavior just left him empty. We can take comfort in the fact that God is “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation” (Psalm 68:5, ESV). God fills and heals our hearts with His love.

This movie has so many positive elements to it. There is nothing inappropriate, at all. I watched it with my young children, and it was so refreshing to not have to turn it off and wait until they weren’t around to watch it. It is one of the most family friendly movies I have seen in a long time, and the production itself was spot on! I’ve said it before, Christian movies can be subpar in terms of the production quality, but this film was wonderfully written, acted and filmed. Kudos to all involved, because I feel they did an exceptional job. I encourage you to see this movie.

One more detail I wish to point out is that this film does show recovery meetings, and, at the very first one, a man mentions his addiction to pornography. At another, a woman mentions being a victim of sexual abuse. There are no descriptions given, and each points to God's healing, however, I do want to make mention of it, since I did say this movie is family friendly. I still stand by that claim. My children watching with me are too young to even question what that is, and it could lead to a positive conversation in families with children old enough to understand it. In our society, where immoral behavior is condoned on TV and in film, this movie points out how damaging sexual sin is and points to God.

Violence: None / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: None

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See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—“Home Run” is a FANTASTIC movie!! The storyline is excellent with great character development, and the acting is very good, too. Sadly, in many Christian productions, the acting is lame and the movie suffers, but this one is spot on. The movie has a wonderful message of redemption without being too preachy for non-believers. Highly recommend!!!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 5
Darlene, age 52 (USA)
Positive—This film is a definate “must see.” I was very impressed with the filming and the story line. They did a great job of capturing the emotions of different abuses that life sends our way. I also liked that they didn’t portray Christianity as Hollywood so often does. It was presented the way it really is. Real and hope filled for one more hurting soul. This film shows the consequences for our actions and a hope for second chances. Awesome!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Sue, age 54 (USA)
Positive—This movie is a must see. They address how brokenness is in each of us to some level, but through Christ’s grace, we can be blessed.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Don Beach, age 51 (USA)
Positive—Very well made movie. Emphasizes human brokenness and points to Christ as the only hope for successful restoration/redemption.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Dave, age 44 (USA)
Neutral
Neutral—Overall, I enjoyed this movie, but was troubled by a couple of things. In terms of moviemaking, I found script, acting, direction and production values to be quite good. Scott Elrod’s portrayal of an impulsive angry drunk is, I think, spot-on, without being one-dimensional; the sense of the stranglehold that an addiction has is also palpable. The supporting cast is very good as well.

What seemed to be “missing in action” was the Gospel itself. Jesus is mentioned throughout the movie… but who is he? What did he do? How? Why? For Whom? There is a seeming message of “accept” Jesus and your troubles will vanish. This is not Biblical or Christian. See Romans 8:18-26 or Matthew 10:17, 34, etc.

I also had no sense of how the transition occurred for Cory—one scene he’s wallowing in drunken self pity and the next he’s taking the “chip.” An exploration of that process would have enriched the film a lot.

Finally, there are several scenes that I found inappropriate, for example Vivica Fox flounces and jiggles through the whole film in tight, decollete knits that often appear sprayed onto her significant figure. Another scene shows young women in very short shorts walking away from the camera. I have worked hard to learn to control my eyes (Job 31:1) and like to think I can feel “safe” in this genre. I was surprised to see that in a Christian movie.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4
Eric, age 63 (USA)

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