Well, Valentine's Day didn't go quite as expected this year- all four of our household were sick, so we spent it vomiting and/or with high fevers and strep throat. Romantic! Still, after the kids were down, my wife and I watched Fever Pitch, a 2005 romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon.
Fever Pitch is a story of obsession and comfort. Ben (Fallon) is an obsessed Red Sox fan, and has been for 23 years. Lindsay (Barrymore) is obsessed with her career, putting in tons of time in a quest to climb the corporate ladder. The rationale that each gives for their unhealthy focus is the same: it's a safe place, where they feel a part of something bigger; something reliable. For their relationship to work, however, they both have to learn the value of sacrifice.
I enjoyed this movie more than the critics. It was an above-average romantic comedy, with the humor being decent, and the theme commendable. I wish they had explored the topic of obsession more, because I believe it's something with which we all struggle. We all have our "defaults" when things get bad- we turn to shopping, sports, careers, hobbies, entertainment, etc. for comfort and familiarity. Those defaults can be unhealthy if given undue focus- and relationships often force those issues to the forefront, and force us to choose: what really matters in this world?
Rating: B+
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