By Skip Sheffield
The good news is that “Home Run” made and surpassed its goal of 1,000 ticket sales for its first weekend at CinemarkPalace theaters in Boca Raton. Even better news is the movie is better than I had expected.
“Home Run’ is a sports-oriented movie with a special agenda. Handsome and rugged Scott Elrod stars as Cory Brand, a hotshot baseball slugger for the fictional Kansas City Grizzlies. Cory is a power hitter with a hot temper to match. The temper is fueled by alcohol, which he sneaks in increasing amounts. When Cory has a temper tantrum that injures a bat boy, he is suspended. His loyal agent Helene (scene-stealer Vivica A. Fox) tries to do damage control, but Cory recklessly drives a rental Corvette while drunk and hits a tractor while injuring his younger brother Clay (Jim Divoti), a lawyer who has been trying to help him.
Cory is ordered into a 12-step program. The only one offered in his small Oklahoma home town is Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered program.
“Home Run” is quite frankly an advertisement for 12-step programs and specifically Celebrate Recovery, which has local chapters that turned out in force for opening night.
Both Cory and Clay had been damaged by an abusive, alcoholic father (Timothy Fall) who was a frustrated baseball player. In the course of the story we see a number of testimonies from people in recovery, all of whom have been damaged in one way or the other.
In Cory’s case it takes some “tough love” from his hometown ex-girlfriend Emma (Dorian Brown) who is now a widow with a son and a big secret for Cory.
Of special interest to local readers is the fact Dorian Brown grew up in Boca Raton and got her start acting in the now-defunct Little Palm Family Theatre. I’m happy to report that pretty Dorian did just fine with her poignant role.
“Home Run” continues through Thursday, April 25 and possibly longer.
A Very Funny “Spank”
“Spank” played just two performances at Parker Playhouse, but it was a very funny parody of “Fifty Shades of Gray,” which I have not read. After seeing “Spank” I don’t think I will waste any time attempting it.
The best part of “Spank” was its improvisational moments with Danielle Trzcinski as the naïve, submissive Tasha. Danielle ventures into the audience and interviews “boyfriends” who are total strangers, but willing to play the game.
Gabe Bowling as the sado-masochistic Hugh Hanson was the big attraction to the overwhelmingly female audience. I must admit Bowling has some pretty good moves, but Danielle Trzcinski is a talent to watch.
Polo Wraps in Wellington, Opens in Miami Beach
The 109th Maserati U.S. Open Final was played Sunday, April 21 at Palm Beach International Polo in Wellington. Two powerhouse 26-goal teams faced off in a hard-fought battle. Ultimately Zacara in the black shirts edged out Valiente in the white shirts 15-13 for Zacara’s second U.S. Open Championship. These action shots are by Boca Tribune’s own Mike Gora.
High-goal polo is over for now at International Polo Club of Palm Beach, but this weekend there will be polo of a different sort in Miami Beach.
Miami Beach Polo World Cup 2013 runs April 25-28 on the beach between 21st and 22nd Streets in Miami Beach. The action starts Thursday with a South Beach Women’s Polo Cup V Kick-Off Party and continues Friday with Miami Beach Polo Cup IX, Saturday with more World Cup IX plus La Martina Fashion Show and Sunday with Miami Beach Polo World Cup Final Play-Offs and Farewell Party.
See www.miamipolo.com for more information.
