It’s been awhile, but our family was ready to revisit a movie we had viewed a few years back. With all of the elements of travel, patriotism, and coming-to-America, the 2014 flick would be just right for this Fourth of July week. Including sports, a very innocent love interest, respect for family and great clips of Indian villages, what was not to like?

So there we sat on the couch, gathered ‘round, and celebrating ‘Merica with the movie, “Million Dollar Arm”.

Don’t want to give it all away, but it follows a real-life story of a sports agent trying to sign some stars and on the verge of closing shop. It’s then that he realizes: cricket players in India might have the same throwing skills which could be converted and developed into major-league baseball players in America. So the team heads to India to hold a contest to find the next “Million Dollar Arm”, offering cash prizes and a trip to the US.

That’s when it starts to get interesting. Lots of first-time-in-civilization misunderstandings, learning-English faux pas, and high-tech or even low-tech moments of disbelief as in: Why is this man holding flat cardboard boxes at the front door? when the pizza man arrives. You see the sports agent’s workaholic life with the fancy house, sports cars and bimbo girlfriends versus the simple, family-oriented young Indian men who feel sorry for him.

It’s cute, it’s sweet, it’s funny and there are a number of twists and turns throughout. Rated PG, the film is appropriate for the whole family, introduces one to everyday Indian culture beyond the Taj Mahal as well as settling into daily life in the US.

“Million Dollar Arm” was enjoyed by all in our family… the second time around.

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