OK for kids 13+
Teen-friendly baseball drama raises father-daughter issues.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Trouble with the Curve -- a carefully rendered portrait of a baseball scout (Clint Eastwood) facing the possible end of his career -- pulls no punches in portraying what life on the road can do to a father and his daughter. Expect some intense conversation about past disappointments and tragedies, as well as lots of beer drinking, some profanity (including one "f--k," "s--t," and "bitch"), kissing/flirting, and one intense fight. Teen baseball fans may enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at talent scouting, but the themes are likely to resonate most with adults.
- Families can talk about how the movie presents the central father-daughter relationship. Is it realistic? Understandable? How do Gus and Mickey compare to other movie fathers and daughters?
- Is Gus a good father? What is the movie saying about fatherhood (and/or parenthood in general)?
- Baseball movies often seem rife with life lessons. Why do you think that is? Do you have to be a baseball fan to enjoy a movie about it?
The good stuff
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Messages: Several worthwhile messages. For example: You can rely all you want on gadgets and technology, but nothing can replace wisdom acquired with experience and acumen. Also, parent-child relationships can be a minefield of disappointments and triumphs, but forgiveness and communication can help you create a new bond in adulthood. Also, find work you love, and passion will always be a part of your work.
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Role models: Gus is crotchety and difficult, but he's dedicated to his craft and loves his daughter fiercely, even if he doesn't often show it in ways she can decipher. Mickey can be withholding and impatient, but she's also smart and successful, and she perseveres and rises above her resentments when her father's welfare is on the line. While she's portrayed as "emotionally unavailable" it's not because she's successful but more because of the abandonment issues she has from her father. Despite their dysfunctional relationship, Gus believes in her and is supportive of her ability to succeed in more "male" pursuits, whether it's becoming a partner in her law firm or becoming a sports agent.
What to watch for
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Violence: A man breaks a beer bottle and uses it as a weapon against another patron at a bar; also, earlier in his life, he beat up another man due to a potential assault on a child, strangling him until he passed out.
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Sex: Kissing and flirting; two adults take a dip in a lake in their skivvies. An early scene goes into detail of the effects of aging on a man's ability to pee.
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Language: One "f--k," plus fairly infrequent use of words including "s--t," "ass," "bitch," "crap," "douchebag," "hell," "damn," "crap," "goddamn," "oh my God," "suck," and "piss."
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Consumerism: Products/labels shown include Schlitz, Pabst, Budweiser, Spam, Buick, Ford, Jack Daniels, Coca-Cola, Apple, Dell, Toshiba, and more.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Many scenes show adults drinking -- beer, whiskey, tequila -- sometimes to numb their pain. One character smokes a cigar.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
No Trouble With The Curve by Darkola
Clint Eastwood in my opinion, is one of the greatest directors, and has always been a great actor, from when he was young up to his current age, with age, he pics the right parts to play in a movie. The acting in this movie was good all the way around, Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, and John Goodman, along with other background actors were all on top of their game for this movie. The story was a good story, the little romance was also good, the only real flaw I had with this movie was the story in the story, the story on why Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood), had left his daughter with others in her younger years after her mother died, I feel that little bit of a story could have went in a completely different direction to add a little more to the movie, to me it kind of threw a negative mark against the movie with the reasoning for his leaving her, it just didnt belong in this movie. This movie had a really good ending, I would give this 2 1/2 stars out of 4 myself Enjoy :)
5
Great movie! by BOZO108
This is a GREAT movie. It has it all, great actors, great story line, humor, some sad moments, and a nice ending. I think anyone would enjoy this movie. All of the characters work very well together. Clint Eastwood is amazing.
I happen to agree with Clint's political views, he is a very WISE man who really cares about this Country. He knows that Obama is dangerous to those of us who love our freedom. PLEASE go see the movie "2016" before you decide who to vote for. Other than FOX, the media has not done their job to report the truth about Obama, so unless you watch FOX, you don't really know Obama.
5
Great story, see it! by AztecDan
The writers did a great job, Eastwood and Adams performed flawlessly. the pain in the dysfunctional relationships is real, and the ending makes it all worthwhile. The audience laughed, cried and applauded during the movie. Your not just dazzled by graphics or the action, you get involved with the emotions. Which is so much more than a lot of the other stuff coming out of Hollywood nowadays. I want more movies like this. You will feel good after seeing this movie. See It! What little profanity there is, fits in with the intensity of the emotions and is not offensive as others who overuse profanity way too much. Take the kids too.
5
Trouble With The Curve by lovevegas007
Go see it! You won't be disappointed! Great cast, great story, GREAT movie! It's a relationship story between a father and daughter, boyfriend and girlfriend, job and family. Women who love romance will want to see this one. Men who love baseball will want to see this movie. No blood and guts, shootings, or car chases. Just a great feel-good movie from beginning to end.
5
Could not believe it! by zookie55
I am not sure who the critics were that said this was a mediocre movie, but they must have been asleep at the wheel!
This movie will make you laugh out loud, cry, cheer for the love story, or for the new player Micky finds. It had two bad guys, who by the way did an excellent job making us hate them. It had a terrific love story, kudos to Timberlake for being very believable as an X-pro and wannabe announcer he did a superb job. The best though is the father daughter relationship that was a grand slam home run. Eastwood and Adams were my dad and I, or the woman behind me and her dad. We all could relate to dealing with parents that are independent, outspoken, and hate the process of getting old.
As an aside, Goodwin plays such an understated role in this movie. He is bigger than life, you expect him to bring the house down.
If you love baseball, believe love can throw you a curve, and understand that families are flawed, this is definitely the movie for you.
5
Trouble with the curve by mrfallreev
After all, how much longer are we going to get to see Clint Eastwood in a new flick? Just as cool old, as when young. I'll take seeing Amy Adams as much as I can too. I can't write like a strong critic when I am so biased with the two main stars of the film. But I can say I don't think too many people will be disappointed.
5
Trouble with the Curve by raco6698
One of the Best Movies of the year. Clint Eastwood did his usual great job and Justin Timber lake was a very good supporting actor. Anyone that wouldn't watch the Movie because of the great skit he did at the Republican National Convention is very thin skinned and should lighten up. The movie was perfect for all ages and is a great contrast to the story line of the "Money Ball" movie that was out not that long ago.
5
Trouble With The Curve by tuffguy
This is an excellent movie! Eastwood did it again. It had a wonderful storyline. I laughed and cried. Would recommend. Language is too rough for children.
5
A fantastic story!! by blindseyclark
I lauged, I cried - a terrific movie for BOTH men and women!! A great mix between a love story and a sports story. Loved this!!
5
You will really enjoy this movie by balboabeachbumb
Even though the vast majority of the audience was older, I think anyone from teenagers on would really enjoy the movie. Good acting all around, especially from Eastwood and Adams. I was very happy that I went out and saw it this afternoon. I will be telling my friends that they should go see it. I would go back and see it a 2nd time soon. A really good movie. I don't understand why it is showing up as Oh No when you call the movie up. Something wrong at Fandango.