Redundant and unnecessary.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

I saw this movie in theaters for two reasons: 1. I'm a huge baseball fan; and 2. I watch Med Men (i.e. the Jon Hamm factor). Even after 20 or so minutes, when I knew exactly what this movie would be, I still really, really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, this one is schmaltzy "Disney" through and through.For a basic plot summary, "Million Dollar Arm" tells the story of how sports agent J.B. Bernstein (Hamm) starts a competition called Million Dollar Arm in order to find a major league baseball player from the relatively untapped market of India. The two athletes he finds, Rinku (Suraj Sharma) and Dinesh (Madhur Mittal), are in for quite a culture shock as they travel to America for the first time and have to essentially learn baseball from scratch.First of, let me be clear in that I'm not attaching a star-ranking to the overall story here. It is truly a fascinating and inspiring tale for baseball fans and human-interest fans alike.As a movie, though, "Million Dollar Arm" falls far short of being great. The main problem? It doesn't have a clear focus, so it tries to do too much and doesn't really nail anything. This could have been a hard-core baseball fan movie. It could have been a love story. It could have been a redemption story. It could have been a new culture assimilation piece. Had the filmmakers looked at the story through just one of those three scopes (and just bolstered it with shades of the others), it would really have worked.Unfortunately, director Craig Gillespie (or maybe the Disney producers) tries to cram every single theme possible into one movie. It really feels like the old "throw the kitchen sink at 'em" method in terms of trying to evoke every possible emotion from the audience. I realize that this movie is supposed to have a broad, family-based appeal, but but focusing on everything the producers ended up focusing on nothing.The two biggest wastes in this movie? 1. Hamm, a terrific actor who plays as transparent of a character as one can see on screen; and 2. The fact that hard-core baseball fans like myself will not enjoy the baseball aspects of this movie. It is made for the family set first and foremost.Thus, though I wanted very badly to enjoy this movie and all the right pieces existed for that to happen, they just didn't come together. The "Indian culture" angle was interesting, but not nearly as compelling as, say, "Slumdog Millionaire", and recently baseball-themed movies like "Trouble with the Curve" and "Moneyball" will appeal much more to the die-hards.

As another reviewer stated, this is a bit predictable, with your underdog character and not too likable agent whose main interests are image and the lifestyle that accompanies it. Maybe I am being a bit harsh, as all of the main actors, with the exception of Alan Arkin, were not familiar to me, and hence at least they were refreshing in a way. The storyline has some funny moments, and real on-set locations in India. Also refreshing to see a movie these days with no foul language or sex or nudity. What made the movie for me though, was the the ending and the credits at the end, which made the characters and story much more real and personal. A good family film.

I have mixed feelings about this film. I wanted to like it.First off, I didn't find Jon Hamm interesting at all as an actor. I have no desire to plunk down money at the box office or to buy a DVD to see him again.Second, most of the first 45 minutes of the film didn't make me have any desire to see India (and, I have lived in Southeast Asia, although not India). I contrast this to "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", which was far more enchanting in terms of showing off India (and not all for the better...but it had more warmth). The time spent filming in India was pretty much wasted.Third, Suraj Sharma was nothing short of brilliant in "The Life Of Pi". In comparison, this role is mickey mouse. What a waste of talent.Fourth, Aasif Mandvi was not at all appealing his his role.Lake Bell was mildly interesting. Bill Paxton and Alan Arkin were there, which isn't saying much.The story was mildly interesting...could have been far more interesting, particularly since it is only "based on" a real story.In short, when you add this to films such as "The Lone Ranger", it's clear that Disney has lost its magic.

While this Disney produced baseball movie based on a true life story mere years ago is far from highly original and at one time or another plays to sporting movie staples set before it, there is little point in arguing with the fact that this film is also one of the most highly enjoyable sporting themed movies of recent times and with some energetic direction by director Craig Gillespie and fine scripting by writing guru Thomas McCarthy, Million Dollar Arm is a mighty fine film in its own right.Fans of Mad Men and in more particular respects Don Draper himself Jon Hamm are going to love Million Dollar Arm that little bit more but for fans of well-made movies and against all odds stories are going to lap up every minute of this feel good flick. A large portion of Million Dollar Arm's success comes down to a really nice energy created by director Gillespie. Gillespie who is perhaps most well-known for his Ryan Gosling oddity Lars and the Real Girl seems to reveal in the films set pieces, from the bustling streets of the ever chaotic India through to the green fields of American college sporting grounds, Gillespie gives the film a great tone. A.R Raham's Slumdog Millionaire like score and McCarthy's already mentioned script go hand in hand with this strong behind the camera work and with a winning cast, the film builds on its foundation strengths.As wannabe big wig sports agent JB, Hamm does a fine job at making a character who could easily be an annoying man in a suit, a likable presence and Hamm's interactions with Suraj Sharma and Madhur Mittal Indian exports Rinku and Dinesh create some of the films finest moments, whether genuinely touching or laugh out loud funny. You feel like your rooting for JB and these wannabe baseball players throughout the entire film and with great supports from Pitobash as over excited Amit and Alan Arkin as the never far from asleep baseball scout Ray, the film has a real winning feel from a cast perspective. The weak link of the movie and something that gets in the way of an at its core basic premise is Lake Bell as JB's potential love interest Brenda, this arc creates a few too many side acts to a story that doesn't benefit greatly from it.A unique true story allows Million Dollar Arm to create something that doesn't feel stale, despite playing out in a very familiar and well-trodden sporting fashion. Benefiting from a likable cast, a top quality family friendly script and some assured direction, this is a truly likable film that while failing to reach spectacular heights, reaches a level of entertainment that makes it highly recommendable.3 and a half javelin poses out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com