Disclosure: This post is part of an all expenses paid press trip to Los Angeles provided by Disney.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.  All giggles and squeals will also belong to me while attending these events in LA!

I’ve been having so much fun sharing my adventures on my trip to Los Angeles last week.  I really hope you’ve been enjoying them as well.  And if you’ve been following along then you know that I saw the World Premier of Million Dollar Arm and walked the red green carpet with the stars of the movie.  We also interviewed several of the actors and I will continue to share those interviews next week.

I love movies but I don’t see many in the theater  They don’t always spark my interest enough to pay to see them in the theater.  However, when I saw the trailer for Million Dollar Arm the first time (I think it was during Saving Mr. Banks) I knew I wanted to see this one and I probably wasn’t going to wait for it to come out on Blu-ray either.  I was heading into the theater to see it.  Why?  Something about it sparked my interest.  Not sure what it was exactly as it was a few months ago.  But I had no idea about the story and had never heard of The Million Dollar Arm Contest, but it just looked good.  Oh and Jon Hamm was the lead actor – so maybe that’s what it was???

The reason for the Million Dollar Arm contest

Million Dollar Arm hits theaters all around the world today so I can finally share my review of the movie.  Like I said, Jon Hamm has the lead roll and he plays J.B. Bernstein, a sports agent that is desperate to get his business in the “ball game” (no pun intended) and not have to go back to work for someone else.  So one night he comes up with this great idea to travel to India to find the next best Baseball player and created the Million Dollar Arm contest.  It was his last effort to save his career.  A career that he loved more than anything.  (Well at least at that point!).

India poses some challenges at first. Things don’t run the same in India as here in the US.

But they do find two kids that can throw really fast, however they have no baseball skills – at all!  He brings them back to the United States to train them.

Is there Romance in the Million Dollar Arm or Just Baseball?

During the process JB (played by Jon) was only focused on getting a fast pitcher, getting the scouts to notice them and making money.  He doesn’t realize what is happening right in front of him – his life is changing and so are the boy’s lives.  But he loves to make money.   At that point he doesn’t really have time for Romance, other than one with his high value lifestyle.

Million Dollar Arm is a great movie for the entire family from beginning to end.  It’s not all about baseball and there is very little romance.   Actually the main message in the movie has nothing to do with baseball or love and everything to do with not being afraid to take a chance and follow your dreams.  That goes for Jon’s character along with the boys as well.

Jon Hamm’s character does have a little bit of romance in the movie but it’s all clean, there is nothing inappropriate and it’s suitable for kids.  My girls can’t wait to see it and keep asking me if I will bring them.  I’m sure I will if we find the time.  I wouldn’t mind seeing it again.

Bring Tissues!

I found my self with tears in my eyes several times and laughing like crazy at others.  Watching the boys leave India was so touching.  They have great bonds with their families and leaving was very hard from them.  But their families knew this was a great opportunity for them to go to the US.  However, that didn’t make it easy on them.  Be prepared with tissues because this is one of many times that you’ll have tears in your eyes!

Million Dollar Arm pulled me into the movie and made me feel like I was part of the ‘family’.  I was so proud at the end – as proud as I would have been if those boys were my own children.

My Favorite Part of Million Dollar Arm

The boys don’t just have a dream but Amit does too.  Jon meets Amit in India and Amit wants to help Jon with the Million Dollar Arm contest.  Amit is hilarious through out the entire movie and played very well by Pitobash.  Amit wants to be a baseball coach.  My favorite part of the movie was at the end when Amit gives the boys the best pep talk ever and shows he really does have what it takes to be a coach.  It was an amazing moment and my favorite part of the movie.

This movie starts of great and not slow at all.  It immediately grabbed my attention and made me want to know more.  It literately kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time waiting for the next scene.  The acting was great.  The comedy was great and the emotions of the characters pulled at your heart strings over and over.  It was real and well done.

Million Dollar Arm hits theaters today all over the world.  See it, you’ll love it.

It’s pretty much my favorite movie this year (besides Frozen which is animated so that’s different to me!)