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Is this a joke? Or better yet, is it an example of more MLB collusion like the kind you will see in this well made documentary. Maybe you think I am writing this review with bias as I have just made accusations of collusion and bashed the MLB but all I can say is this is a must watch for a baseball fan, or anyone interested in the business of sports. As you may have heard it follows the lives of two prospects and like a good documentary remains impartial and looks only for facts, and let the narratives play themselves out. They didn't go to the Dominican and just say hey lets shoot a movie about kids playing ball and packed up their shi* and left, they were there for over a year working hard and getting the most honest product they could. Watch this film, phenomenal work, it starts a bit slow as a point of emphasis but you can't stop watching once you get to about 15 minutes in. Please enjoy this extraordinary title and help get its absurdly low rating up to where it belongs. -B

Allow me to start out by saying this. Whether or not you like sushi or are revolted by it is not at all relevant. This movie categorizes itself as a documentary but that is not an accurate representation. It ought to be categorized as a life lesson, and a way of life. Jiro, the protagonist and celebrity of Japan is anything but ordinary. From the age of seven Jiro has understood the world could not care less who you are or where you came from and will leave you for dead regardless of what potential you may have.

His father disappeared from his life and unlike most sad stories Jiro did not have a single mother to live with. He had no-one but himself and Japan and began a life of hard labor before he could properly spell. Jiro did not pity himself, nor did he question why life was this way to him. At the age of ten he discovered the art of sushi and never looked back. Some of you skeptics may be saying, okay whatever he had a rough upbringing with no family and was on the streets, whoopie, and that is understandable because a heartwarming story of success alone does not make a film great.

What separates this film is the in depth, seldom seen characterization, that is presented with little to no effort. Within a few minutes the viewer has an understanding that Jiro is humble, yet confident, bold, yet insightful, strong, yet understanding. Jiro almost never takes days off because he has found his passion in life and sees life as meaningless without sushi. The most amazing thing however is his superhuman ability to have unprecedented self awareness. He understands that despite the fact that he is widely considered the greatest sushi chef ever known to modern man, contemporary or otherwise, he is constantly striving to improve, not because he wants more accolades (which he has plenty of) but because he honestly believes there is no such thing as good enough. Jiro could not care less that he has three Michelin stars, or is in the guiness book of world records, yes this is spoken about in the film but not by him, he is constantly training aspiring chefs and ensuring that his two sons are prepared to flourish when he inevitably passes on.

Jiro is one of the most meticulous, systematic people you will ever see and he is the epitome of modest. He does not praise himself, only those who provide him with what he needs such as his rice dealer or fish dealers. These people do not work for Jiro directly but they care solely about his opinion, and making sure that Jiro gets what he wants because they understand this cult of personality is a once in a generation type of individual.

I could go on and on but I will let you watch this magnificent film as the director seems to be nearly as humble as Jiro as he let his work do the talking. If you see one film the rest of your existence on earth see this one. I kid you not you will come close to tears at the end despite the fact that no one dies, or anything catastrophic happens, but because for 82 minutes you can forget about all the perils of the human condition and bask in the glory that is the aura of Jiro.

If you go into college expecting the bare minimum of a movie and taking it for what it is (a mildly entertaining cliché filled coming of age comedy) you will still not enjoy yourself. The reason is simple, it tries too hard to be funny. It's most easily compared to that annoying guy at work who stands at the water cooler making immature mom jokes or an annoying teacher at school who desperately wants to impress the students. The script surprisingly isn't bad but this movie rips off of Superbad so much with the character of Fogel in relation to this movies Morris you could call it plagiarism. The ever so ridiculously cliché character that brings sympathy and laughs from the audience because of how naive he is always being so sexually insecure and inexperienced is just so old. The only actor who deserves any sort of a nod is Drake Bell for his mediocre acting and decent carrying of his co actors (Andrew Caldwell and Kevin Covais.) It's sad watching this movie really because the actors so desperately want to be funny (except Drake Bell) so that they can get recognition and be cast into an Apatow film. They have a chance really with the script and extremely humorous atmosphere filled with jocks and egotistical lunatics both male and female. They're acting coaches and idiotic attitudes hurt them here as they failed to make a humorous movie. You average group of teenagers may enjoy this, which is not a bad thing but if you go into this movie looking for a cohesive story line and enjoyable plot then go watch Tropic Thunder where the actors actually succeed in some of these categories.