There is a scene in the film Magnolia where all the cast sing along with Amy Mann's "Wise Up"; a scene I've always loved as it represents a feeling many of us have at least sometimes – which is that our current situations are our own making, and that it won't improve unless we change (which we almost certainly won't beyond a few fleeting moments where the regret is still raw). A similar sentiment exists in the film Pancake Batter. An older pitcher in a minor league team, is eking out a career with decent numbers and solid performances, only seeming to step it up in any significant way when the randomly chosen pancake batter steps up to the plate (he being the one that, if struck out, gets everyone in the crowd a free short-stack of pancakes).
Challenged by his coach to get out of this team and try to be closer to his son, the pitcher finds himself facing tough choices. I made it sound heavier than it is, but it is actually pretty well handled and is mostly delivered through a small dialogue scene discussing why he is able to step it up at a key moment (for pancakes). It is nicely portrayed and I did find it quite touching because, in one small act, we understand that the character has made a bigger decision – a decision in many ways to "wise up". In the context we are given, the courage of that does come through the screen, and I liked that it played out in such an insignificant thing as a small crowd of people in a small town getting to eat some free pancakes or not.
The film is affectionately shot, with rich color and a good feel of the stadium and the smalltown mood. The performances are a bit variable and I'm not sure I always bought Keener's delivery of his character – the key scene in the coach's office didn't totally work on his side, and likewise in the pancake house there was not a total sense of character, but still, the writing and tone makes it work. As with some of Kander's previous short films, there is a tendency towards sentiment, and in this film I thought the music was just a little bit over that line, and that the material didn't really need that extra bump. Otherwise though, it plays out a big moment on a small stage and is satisfying and engaging as it does it.
