Pastime
Dove "Family-Approved"
Recommended for ages 12 and over
Video Release: 5/8/2012
Reviewer: Edwin L. Carpenter
Source: Video
Writer: D.M. Eyre Jr.
Producer: Eric Tynan Young, Robin B. Armstrong
Director: Robin B. Armstrong
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 95 min.
MPAA Rating: PG
Starring: William Russ, Glenn Plummer, Noble Willingham, Jeffrey Tambor, Scott Plank, Deirdre O'Connell
Synopsis:
 In 1957, baseball is at its peak as America's favorite pastime. For aging minor leaguer Roy Dean Bream (William Russ), whose dreams of pitching in the Majors died long ago, the love of the game is all that keeps him showing up season after season. But when the team signs rookie Tyrone Debray (Glenn Plummer), a 17-year-old from the wrong side of town, Bream sees someone with the potential to achieve what he never could. As an unlikely friendship develops across the boundaries of race and age, these two ballplayers will inspire each other to become more than they ever thought they could be. Dove Worldview:
This movie shines as an example of a man who refuses to be a racist and who retains a positive attitude despite the curve balls life throws his way. The aging minor league pitcher Roy Dean Bream (William Russ) makes the new rookie, an African American named Tyrone Debray (Glenn Plummer), feel right at home despite a less than nice reception from a few of his other teammates. While Roy and Tyrone enjoy lunch together in a diner another player talks about the "salt and pepper" and makes sure they hear the racist inference.
The owner of the team wants Roy gone, believing that the manager, Clyde Bigby (Noble Willingham), is carrying him. But Bigby sees a likable player with a positive attitude in Roy and is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his fading skills.
This is a terrific movie and, despite some language, its themes of accepting people of all races and never giving up on a dream are nicely featured in the film. We are pleased to award the movie our Dove "Family-Approved" Seal for ages twelve plus. Play ball! And enjoy this movie too.
Sex: None
Language: D-11; H-8; BS-1; A-1; Crap-1; Idiot-1; Shut-up-1; Moron-1; Butt-1
Violence: A man pokes a man with a stick and then hits him with it and there is some blood; a few fights; a brawl among two teams; a man hits the roof of his car in anger; a man punches another man and the man receives a bloody lip.
Drugs: Smoking in several scenes including cigarettes, a pipe, and a cigar; drinking and some bar scenes and talk of getting a drink and an owner who throws a party says he will buy the booze; a player takes prescription medicine for blood pressure.
Nudity: Shirtless men.
Other: A woman gets sick; a few racist attitudes and a man says something about the salt and pepper in the diner when a white man and black man have lunch together; a death takes place and there is grief.
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