Fever Pitch Review

Fever Pitch

Director: David Evans.

Starring: Colin Firth, Ruth Gemmell, Mark Strong, Holly Aird.

Football as a metaphor for life or perhaps football as a metaphor for what is missing from our lives. Either way, Fever Pitch is a very enjoyable movie.

The basic story is of a man obsessed with football but that just doesn't do the movie justice. It's about teaching, and falling in love, and dealing with commitments and what does it mean to be a grown up. This last question seems to be the pivotal question of the movie. In one scene where Paul (Mr. Colin Firth) and Sarah (Ms. Ruth Gemmell) are arguing about what is important. Paul comments that wanting Arsenal to win the championship is something he's wanted for eighteen years. He thinks this indicates commitment while Sarah thinks it indicates an unwillingness to grow up: wanting something when you're thirty that you wanted when you were twelve. Both actually make strong arguments for their standpoints with Paul suggesting that we lose our wonder for life, our childish delight in things if we let go of these dreams.

The script for Fever Pitch, written by Mr. Nick Hornby who also wrote the book upon which it is based, sparkles with wonderfully funny lines. This coupled with some hilarious scenes, particularly in the cafe where Paul and Sarah are discussing their future, makes for a very funny movie.

It's not all comedy, though. Within this movie there are some very touching moments as well as some very thought-provoking ones. Fever Pitch makes one contemplate what are the important things in life.

As well as the great script, the performances of everyone in Fever Pitch are splendid. Mr. Colin Firth as Paul makes him a complete git but at the same time a very likeable git. Ms. Ruth Gemmell as Sarah is completely believable as the slightly uptight teacher with a bit of a sense of humour. Both Mr. Mark Strong (Steve) and Ms. Holly Aird (Jo) as the respective best friends add a great sense of fun to the movie, especially Steve during the final game of the season.

In summary, Fever Pitch is a very enjoyable movie. Do you need to like soccer to appreciate this film? Not at all. It's a very funny movie with a lot to say about life. What it says to you probably depends on how mad a football fan you are.

Rating: D