"Benched"

While the World Series is long over, America's pastime is still something we enjoy watching, whether its highlights or a good movie like "The Sandlot" or "The Rookie". Yet those movies tend to focus on more than just the love of the game, they show life triumphs and struggles as well and how it all plays out as the players go up to bat.

Don (John C. McGinley) is a dedicated pee-wee baseball coach who makes winning the most important thing, but when Michael (Garret Dillahunt) comes on as an assistant coach, his let's have fun approach doesn't mix well with Don's strive to win at all cost. Yet as they come to find a balance on the field, off the field they deal with their own life changes with Michael at a crossroads as to whether to start a relationship with single mom Carolyn (Jlynn Johnson) after the loss of his wife while Don deals with his wife's infidelity and the early stages of a divorce. Finding their common ground on the field, the two find a way to put their differences aside and coach a budding team to victory.

In all honesty, while the life values from two opposites finding some comfort in the other makes for a sweet life lesson story, it left me far out in left field. With an actor like John C. McGinely known for his comedic roles such as "Scrubs" and "Are We Done Yet?" I half expected to get a few laughs, especially with a story about an underdog kids baseball team involved, but seeing it focus more on the two main characters and the kids merely as extras with few lines, it was a disappointment. Comedy is non-existent and there's very little growth from the characters. Overall, it will not hit it out of the park with me and will only come away with one and a half G.M.Stars. I only give the half as a generous gesture to the main characters since their acting was not lacking, just the writer's A-game.

⭐½

"Benched" is available at Redbox and where movies are sold/streamed.