Review of Bull Durham (1988) by Jh K — 16 Apr 2013

Written and directed by Ron Shelton, who has made other sports related films like White Men Can't Jump (1992), Cobb (1994) and Tin Cup (1996)), this is an amusing and entertaining romantic comedy set around the world of baseball, it was partially based on Shelton's own experience of playing in minor league baseball in the early 1970's.

It has a good cast and it's likeable and enjoyable, even if sports films aren't your cup of tea. In Durham, North Carolina. Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) is sent to Durham's baseball team, the Bull's, to help coach and educate young hotshot rookie pitcher Ebby LaLoosh (Tim Robbins), whose pitching and attitude on the pitch rile up the team's coach Joe Riggins (Trey Wilson).

Meanwhile, long time baseball fan Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) has had one objective, every year, she chooses one of the members of the team to become her lover for that year. She falls for Ebby, and seduces him, however, when she meets Crash, it's obvious that they're a better match, but Ebby takes great offense to this, just as he's starting to show real potential.

It's a very funny film with some smart dialogue and some good observational humour along the way, Robbins is very funny and this helped get him onto better things, and Costner shows some good athletic ability in this film, and he'd return to baseball in films again.