Don’t let the title fool you. Home Run is not simply a baseball movie.
Though the film does center on the life of a professional baseball player and includes multiple baseball scenes throughout, this movie is ultimately about one man’s battle against an alcohol addiction and the haunting memories of his childhood. Most of all, it is a story of the redemption and healing that can only come from salvation through Jesus Christ.
Cory Brand is a talented player at the top of his game. But he has little regard for anyone but himself, and that self-absorption leads to a lengthy suspension from the game. This turn of fortune returns him to his roots in Oklahoma, where he coaches a Little League baseball team in place of his brother, who was injured in an accident Cory caused, and is court-ordered to a 12-step recovery program. He finds no solace, as he has to face his past and regain his former success.
Perhaps the most attractive quality of Home Run is its realism. There is no quick-fix for Cory’s alcoholism, and he can’t overcome it by sheer willpower. He isn’t able to repair the broken relationships in his life by his own efforts, either.
Scott Elrod’s portrayal of Cory Brand is solid. The emotion and volatility Elrod brings to his character are genuine and undeniable.
The movie, produced by Impact Productions of Tulsa, Okla., is made in the genre of the Kendrick Brothers’ films Fireproof and Courageous. It brings real-life situations with faith-based answers to the big screen. Christians and non-Christians, baseball fans and non-baseball fans—all should go see Home Run.
