Break Point

The plot is predictable. But the cast makes this movie worth watching. It had just enough tough love to balance the saccharine in the coming of age and late bloomer film.

Jimmy Price (Jeremy Sisto) is a tennis player on his last legs. He antagonizes everybody including his doubles partner. He needs a new partner. His veterinary father Jack (J.K. Simmons) suggests his younger brother Darren (David Walton) despite double-crossing him when they were younger. Darren is a substitute teacher who is befriended by a clingy boy named Barry. Darren is taken with Jack's assistant Heather (Amy Smart) who has boyfriend Gary. Barry opines, "Our names rhyme. It's mildly amusing".

One gets the feeling that this was written as a wacky comedy but it's at best mildly amusing. Neither Sisto nor Walton are outright comedians although they sometimes do comedic acting. In this one, they don't really try that hard. The lines are sometimes there but the delivery is flat. I keep thinking this is a Will Ferrell comedy without Will Ferrell. It might be better to go darker and more serious with the story. Or just give it to Ferrell for him to go completely nuts.

Best movie about tennis & family! There's comedy. There's drama. And yes, there's tennis. Although I couldn't watch it yet with my kids due to some scenes w profanity (my 10yr old daughter who plays varsity), Im definitely going to watch it again with my wife. The characters were hilarious and likable. Its about tennis. Its about life. Its about redemption. And yet, the ending isn't something you would expect. Even non-tennis viewers would surely like. I've seen Wimbledon the movie. I've seen Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach. All of them were "okay". But none of them compares to this. Beautifully written, touching and heartwarming. Made me fall in love even more with the game. And also appreciate family, after all "Every family has its faults".

The movie is not met to change lives but it will supply you with a lot of laughs if you go out and see it.

Especially, Jeremy Sisto, who nailed it. He showed some serious comedy chops that I did not know he had. Think I only see him in dramas like Law & Order. He was brilliant as the charming lovable washed up Tennis player trying to get back into the game.

Although I felt David Walton, who played the younger brother who was loured back onto the courts by his brother so he can play doubles, was not that good of a straight man to Sisto's hilarious performance, but his relationship with an eleven year old boy he substitute taught for was where he got to shine. These two were too much together.

It's not going to be the greatest sports movie of all time or the greatest sports comedy ever, In fact the whole Tennis thing feels no more than back ground for the relationship of all the characters, which includes J.K. Simmons as the dad, but overall it's a guaranteed laugh. You won't be able to help yourself.

The movie story is really sweet,, the idea is new and the plot is perfectly clear and the events grows smoothly .. the comedy is really nice, simple and easily understandable and followable , Jeremy Sisto is a good well known actor and as his second try as a script writer it really shows that he got some talent ,, as the screenplay got some "about a boy" style in it's start or maybe i'm still affected and stunned by it's cancellation but it is a nice story for a thirty something years old guy to be a mentor like for a kid from school .. then the real story about the brothers reveals itself, to finally a reasonably strong ending ,, the only thing is the movie felt really fast to me, but i think it is a plus point counts to the editing and directing because the story might'v gotten boring if they added more branches to the story, so i think after all things went smoothly in that matter.

As for the cast, Jeremy Sisto is really funny,, David Walton is awesome , loved him from about a boy , here maybe the script was a bit unfair for him like doesn't mean he wasn't funny especially the scenes with the kid but he could'v been a lot funnier. Also it was a Nice touch bringing actors like J.K. Simmons, Amy Smart and Adam DeVine but also they could'v gotten a couple of funny lines to make their characters pops a little . and sure the little kid ,. Joshua Rush he's got some skills ;)

Overall,, the movie already won Newport Beach Film Festival award for Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking ,, it is not an Oscar .. but it is a huge recognition for a movie still officially to be released on the 4th of September this year,, so bravo ... the comedy is fresh and you won't for a second regret watching it. hope you guys enjoy it ;)