Summer Catch

2001

Summer Catch

Critics Consensus

A cliched and predictable sports comedy that's mostly devoid of excitement or laughs, Summer Catch is strictly bush-league.

8%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 91

41%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 50,032
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Movie Info

This blend of sports and youthful romantic comedy is from director Michael Tollin, who previously produced the sports drama Varsity Blues (1999). Freddie Prinze Jr. stars as Ryan Dunne, a ballplayer who's spending the summer as a pitcher for the famed, highly prestigious Cape Cod League, a non-professional farm team that has turned out numerous baseball legends. Ryan's under special pressure on a number of fronts. He's the first local boy to earn a slot in the league in years, and his blue-collar status earns him the enmity of a hot-shot college teammate, Eric Van Leemer (Corey Pearson). Although he's backed up by his best friend and team catcher Billy Brubaker (Matthew Lillard), Ryan adds more stress to his life by embarking on an affair with a beautiful, wealthy young Vassar graduate, Tenley Parrish (Jessica Biel), who's spending the summer on the Cape with her parents. Tenley is facing her own crisis as her father (Bruce Davison) pressures her to move to San Francisco and work with her uncle, though she'd rather remain in the East and become an architect. Summer Catch is the third onscreen teaming of Prinze and Lillard, and also stars Brian Dennehy, Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Gedrick, Fred Ward, and Brittany Murphy.

Cast

Freddie Prinze Jr.
as Ryan Dunne
Freddie Prinze
Jessica Biel
as Tenley Parrish
Fred Ward
as Sean Dunne
Bruce Davison
as Rand Parrish
Jason Gedrick
as Mike Dunne
Brittany Murphy
as Dede Mulligan
Marc Blucas
as Miles Dalrymple
Matthew Lillard
as Billy Brubaker
Brian Dennehy
as Coach John Schiffner
Wilmer Valderrama
as Mickey Dominguez
Gabriel Mann
as Auggie
Jed Rhein
as Pete
Zena Grey
as Katie Parrish
Corey Pearson
as Eric Van Leemer
Christian Kane
as Dale Robin
Randi Lane
as Vivi Parrish
Cedric Pendleton
as Calvin Knight
Grif Griffis
as Himself
John C. McGinley
as Phillies Scout (uncredited)
Beverly D'Angelo
as Lusty House Mother (uncredited)
Curt Gowdy
as Himself
Mike Liberthal
as Himself
Pat Burrell
as Himself
Mike Aaron
as Himself
Dave Collins
as Himself
Doug Glanville
as Himself
Randi Layne
as Vivi Parrish
Ken Griffey Jr.
as Himself
Jeff Kellogg
as Himself
Mike Lieberthal
as Himself
Courtney Driver
as Jenna
Hank Aaron
as Himself
Dick Allen
as Scout in Black Hat
Traci Dinwiddie
as Lauren
Susan Gardner
as Marjorie
Jack Baun
as Chris Hunt
Tim Lucason
as Hyannis Batter
Kenny Gasperson
as Statistician
Mark Ellis
as Umpire
Anghus Houvouras
as Fan
Herbert W. Gains
as Angry Fan
Tammy Christine Arnold
as Vasser Graduate
Thaddeus Hill
as Coach Sully
Brock Keene
as Chatham Pitcher
Mike Ribaudo
as Chatham A No.1
Matt Hobbie
as Chatham A No.2
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Critic Reviews for Summer Catch

All Critics (91) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (84)

  • It's a movie that should have been called on account of boredom.

    August 8, 2014 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

    Jami Bernard

    New York Daily News
    Top Critic

  • As the script works toward its big-game finale, it pauses now and then to rip off Bull Durham, to let Biel spout Successories-worthy words of encouragement, and to touch on subplots involving Prinze's familiar-faced teammates.

    June 14, 2013 | Full Review…

    Keith Phipps

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • Maybe the filmmakers figured that the audience for Summer Catch is too young to have seen Bull Durham.

    June 14, 2013 | Full Review…

    Malcolm Ritter

    Associated Press
    Top Critic

  • When it comes to funny business, Tollin's got game, and he makes the most of some talented supporting players on his bench.

    April 16, 2008 | Full Review…

    Joe Leydon

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • [An] awful light drama.

    March 6, 2007 | Full Review…

    Lisa Alspector

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Because I'm a baseball fan, I tend to be an easy mark for baseball-themed movies, but something as badly focused and feebly scripted as Summer Catch just makes me wish for the Fall.

    August 30, 2001 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

    James Berardinelli

    ReelViews
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (91)

Audience Reviews for Summer Catch

  • May 24, 2010
    The baseball parts were good, everything else not so much.
    Ed K Super Reviewer
  • May 11, 2010
    Freddy and Matthew Lillard two of the worst actors since the millennium. Brittany Murphy awful, Jessica Biel good lawd shawty, but movie is pretty bad. Terrible Boston accents only make this movie worse.
    Lenny M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 03, 2009
    Summer Catch is a really fun sports movie starring Freddie Prinze Jr., gorgeous Jessica Biel, Matthew Lillard as the comic relief....I find this guy hilarious and just too funny for words, Brittany Murphy, Marc Blucas and cameo by Beverly D'Angelo. Ryan (Freddie Prinze Jr.) wants to be a pro baseball player but most of his family members think he's just going to screw the whole thing up. Then you have Tenley (Jessica Biel) as a little rich girl whose father is trying to run her life. Brian Dennehy plays the hard-boiled coach, but he's fun to watch. Summer catch is a true sleeper waiting to delight those who take the time to look for it at their local store.
    Deb S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 29, 2009
    I really enjoyed this movie
    Brody M Super Reviewer
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