Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Million Dollar Arm is based on the true story of an independent sports agent (Jon Hamm) and his business partner, who came up with an idea to attract Indian athletes to try out for the chance to become Major League Baseball pitchers. It's a typical feel-good sports flick but is much more appropriate for tweens than the majority of movies in the genre. There's little language (infrequent insults like "jerk," "stupid") and no violence, but there are some references to the main character's sex life, including a few kisses and a morning-after scene that's referred to euphemistically a few times as him "spending the night." Characters who aren't used to drinking overdo it at a party and end up getting sick as a result. Young viewers will learn a bit about Indian culture, geography, the popular sport of cricket, and -- of course -- America's favorite pastime, baseball.
Sexual
Content
J.B. is known as a ladies' man who only dates models. A model is shown kissing J.B. goodbye before leaving his house (it's clear she spent the night), and, on another occasion, one of the young Indian players walks in on her in the bathroom and freaks out at seeing the woman. Toward the end of the movie, J.B. and Brenda kiss passionately and then head to the bedroom. The next morning, J.B. is seen leaving her cottage in the same clothes he had on the night before. The guys ask J.B. whether they kissed and whether they'll get married, and J.B. explains that just because he "spent the night with her," that doesn't mean they're "together." Women wear skimpy outfits during a party set at an NFL player's house. A woman is referred to as a "hottie."
Violence
J.B. gets upset with his guys and yells at them.
Language
Infrequent exclamations or insults like "damn," "hell," "stupid," "insane," "crazy," "jerk," etc.
Social
Behavior
The kind of positive messages you'd expect from a sports movie: work hard, stay focused, and never give up. This one also adds to play for the right reasons and recognize that professional sports, for all of the money involved, should still be a joy and fun for athletes to play.
Consumerism
Some products featured, including Apple computers, iPhone, iPod, Porsche, soda, and sports network ESPN, as well as Sports Illustrated.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Unfamiliar with alcohol, the three Indian characters quickly get drunk at a party and proceed to get sick in J.B.'s car. J.B. drinks beer and one night drinks Scotch with Brenda.
