The title is borrowed from an old quote by Chicago Cubs great, Ernie Banks, who upon noting what a beautiful day it was, suggested "let's play two". But if you watch this film expecting it to be a baseball movie or a concert movie, it's neither. It is a celebration, it's about loyalty and brotherhood, perseverance and triumph.
The Danny Clinch directed movie focuses around the return to Chicago of a native son (Eddie Vedder) who spent his childhood in and around Wrigley Field and has become one of the Cub's most steadfast supporters. Following Chicago's nail biting 7 game battle to win the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians, Eddie and his Pearl Jam band mates make the trip back to the Windy City to celebrate the Championship with more than 40,000 of their closest friends.
Expertly filmed, the movie intersperses interviews with Vedder, Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready, Cubs President Theo Epstein, Beth Murphy, owner of famed sports bar, Murphys Bleachers and a handful of fans with concert footage from the bands two night gig. The concert footage is well filmed and we get a true sense of Vedder's skill and talent as lead singer and why Pearl Jam has endured as a musical icon for over 20 years.
Rich visuals of the band, the enormous crowd and the crisp, edgy soundtrack will make any Pearl Jam fan impatient for the next live performance. So it goes without saying that my only complaint is that even at a solid 2 hours, it still wasn't long enough. You leave the theater wanting more so until you have Pearl Jam concert tickets in hand, this will have to hold you over.
