Calvin Marshall is one of those films you wish EVERYONE could see, but sadly, because it's one of those fantastic independent films that doesn't have the advantage of the multi- million-dollar Hollywood "machine" behind it in terms of marketing, it may get lost in the shuffle.
I really HOPE not, because this film is the perfect blend of humor, drama, great casting, great acting and a great script that comes along only rarely. Steve Zahn is truly fantastic as the has-been minor ballplayer turned junior college coach; he perfectly conveys the pathetic-yet- touching character's frustration at what he has become. Alex Frost is completely believable in his role as the title character; channeling early John Cusack, he has an immediate likability and believability factor that audiences can easily relate to (and root for).
Remember, though, that this is NOT a "baseball movie". Yes, it is (on the surface) about baseball. And yes, anyone who has ever been involved in baseball on ANY level will undoubtedly love it and relate to it. But it is really a movie about LIFE: about hopes, dreams, relationships, success, failure, love, laughs and tears. This movie will DEFINITELY be added to my collection when it comes out on DVD (and that's saying a lot--not many movies make that list of begging to be watched over and over again. Calvin Marshall does.
