The movie revolves around the boy Ryan, who once meets a girl at Boston College and named Tenley Parish, the daughter of a wealthy couple who are staying in Cape Town. Over time, Ryan is struggling to become a major baseball player in the league, but Tenley is still in an unresolved crisis.
Big chunks of plot seem to be missing, as if left on the editing-room floor so that director Mike Tollin, in his feature debut, can get to yet another inspiring speech.
As the script works toward its big-game finale, it pauses now and then to rip off Bull Durham, to let Biel spout Successories-worthy words of encouragement, and to touch on subplots involving Prinze's familiar-faced teammates.
Because I'm a baseball fan, I tend to be an easy mark for baseball-themed movies, but something as badly focused and feebly scripted as Summer Catch just makes me wish for the Fall.
Despite an enjoyable turn from Brittany Murphy, the clichéd plot (local poor boy pitches his way to the Major League) ensures that's the best this forgettable teen fodder can hope for.
