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Based on a Nick Hornby book, this romantic comedy was directed by the Farrelly Brothers, who brought us THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY and SHALLOW HAL. The film is far more typical Hornby than Farrelly.

Ben (Jimmy Fallon, 2004’s TAXI) is a school teacher who meets Lindsey (Drew Barrymore, EVER AFTER) while he is taking his students on a field trip to where she works. She’s not really gung ho about the frumpish teacher at first but he wins her over with his charm and sweetness. Then he drops the big “relationship killer” on her. He’s a Red Sox fanatic, who has been religiously following the team since he was seven and has inherited season tickets from his uncle.

The film truly understands the nature of obsessing on one pastime and how others react to that passion. The story makes Ben an over-the-top fan, but you believe it 100%. I know people like Ben and I understand the passion one can develop on one thing. I loved the scene when Ben takes Lindsey to her first game. He knows all the people around him. They related the history of the team with a sad reverence. It’s their shared history. The film gets it right.

Like I said previously the film isn’t as broad as previous Farrelly Brothers’ films and actually suffers when it reaches for some slapstick moments that just aren’t funny and don’t fit the overall tone of the film. Yet, the Farrelly’s never lose track of the story they are really trying to tell. It’s equally balanced between Ben and Lindsey and really makes us care about them both. Fallon and Barrymore are perfect in their roles.

Serendipity struck this production with the Sox winning the World Series the year the film was being made. You couldn’t have gotten a better happy ending than this one. It’s a charmer.