Release Date:
Friday, August 24, 2001
After the initial decision to dig their own box office grave and turn their movie into a Freddie Prinze Jr. vehicle, the creators of Summer Catch reached for their big book of clichés to come up with a plot: Our hero is a local southpaw pitcher, with a dead mother and a dream. When he’s not on the field, clownin’ with the boys and exchanging insults with his ace pitcher nemesis, he works with his gruff, working-class father to tend the lawn of his love interest (Jessica Biel), who’s an unspoiled richie with a hot body and an overprotective father.
At times this movie is so painful to watch you will want to scrape your toenails out with a gardening spade. The mix of sports-movie guy banter (“So, you mowed her lawn and now you’re trying to mow her lawn.”), and romantic puppy poo (“Let’s be together.”) ensures that this flick will never find an audience in anyone but pre-teens unable to shell out for an *NSYNC concert. One final note: Yes, Jessica Biel does briefly parade around in a bikini. But, bear this in mind: Freddie Prinze Jr. wears a thong. And, no, we’re not kidding.
At times this movie is so painful to watch you will want to scrape your toenails out with a gardening spade. The mix of sports-movie guy banter (“So, you mowed her lawn and now you’re trying to mow her lawn.”), and romantic puppy poo (“Let’s be together.”) ensures that this flick will never find an audience in anyone but pre-teens unable to shell out for an *NSYNC concert. One final note: Yes, Jessica Biel does briefly parade around in a bikini. But, bear this in mind: Freddie Prinze Jr. wears a thong. And, no, we’re not kidding.