By Skip Sheffield
“Home Run” opens in theaters nationally April 19, including Cinemark Palace in Boca Raton. The film is not there by accident or chance. “Home Run” is of special interest to a group called Celebrate Recovery, which has branches in both east and west Boca Raton.
“Home Run” is the story of Cory Brand (Scott Elrod), a hotshot baseball player who lives fast and loose. Reality smacks Cory in the face when he is busted with a DUI. As part of his sentence, he is ordered to return to his home town, join a recovery group and coach a struggling Little League team as his community service. Though he resists at first, Cory begins to appreciate mentoring his hapless kids. He also hooks up with a former flame, all of which gives him a new sense of hope.
So “Home Run” is both a sports movie and an inspirational message movie, but inspirational movies often are in
a limited market of people who believe in a certain way.
Unlike Alcoholics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery has a distinct Christian framework based on belief in Jesus Christ.
“Celebrate Recovery is about hope, feeling and redemption,” says Nancy Runhaar, who founded the east Boca chapter of CR six years ago this August. “We don’t advertise that we are involved with `Home Run,’, but once our founder, John Baker got onboard, we have been doing our best to promote it; not just to Christians, but to anyone who needs hope.”
Runhaar says “Home Run” is not as overtly religious as say, “Fireproof,” but it does adhere to its specific faith.
“In A.A. you are allowed to say you believe in a higher power or you believe in God, but you are not supposed to proclaim your faith is in Jesus Christ,” Runhaar explains. “Celebrate Recovery believes Jesus is the answer.”
Celebrate Recovery was founded by two California pastors, Rick Warren and John Baker, as a Christ-based alternative to the more secular Alcoholics Anonymous. CR as it is called for short is not just about alcoholism but “all hurts, habits and hang-ups” that may prevent a person from living a full, productive life.
Runhaar started the Boca Raton chapter after she was told about it by her eldest daughter Heather, who was struggling with her own addictions.
“When two of my daughters began having problems with addictions, I thought we are going to fix this,” she recounts. “I went up and down the East Coast visiting CR chapters. I learned there were things I had to fix about myself.”
In “Home Run” the character who rescues the deep-in-denial ball player Cory is his agent Helene, played by Vivica Fox. Also providing support is an old girlfriend Emma, played by Dorian Brown.
“Vivica Fox is the biggest name in the cast,” Runhaar admits. “Scott Elrod had a small part in `Argo.’ This is his first starring role, and he really does a great job. In fact everyone did a great job. That’s why the movie is so powerful and why it should be seen by everyone, not just Christians or people in recovery.”
Runhaar believes in “Home Run” so completely she “put her money where her mouth is,” so to speak.
“We had to guarantee the sale of one thousand tickets to bring “Home Run” to Boca Raton,” she reveals. “I have faith we will make it. We have sold 700 advance tickets so far.”
For more information, go to www.homerunthemovie.com.
