Taglines: Are you game?
This summer couldn’t be more crucial for Ryan Dunne, a blue-collar kid with aspirations to become a major league baseball player. Every summer, the hottest college ball players descend upon Cape Cod to pursue their baseball dreams during the day and blow off steam in town at night.
The first local boy in years to earn a slot in the team, Ryan finally got his shot…but the temptations off-field are getting in the way of his commitment to the game. Soon, a beautiful young woman who summers in the town with her family distracts Ryan. As the friction builds between his loyal townie friends and his cocky teammates, Ryan’s rivalry with hot-shot teammate Eric comes to a head. When a major league scout comes along, however, he tries to push the pangs of romance and player rivalry aside, because his sports talent may be his only ticket out of the small industrial town.
Summer Catch is a 2001 romantic comedy film starring Freddie Prinze, Jr., Jessica Biel and Matthew Lillard. The film was directed by Mike Tollin, marking his feature film directorial debut. The story takes place on Cape Cod, but the majority of the film was shot in Southport, North Carolina.
About the Story
Ryan Dunne (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) is a local baseball prospect who gets an opportunity to play in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Chatham Athletics. Dunne was born and raised in Chatham, Massachusetts and dreams of playing in the major leagues. He helps his dad with his landscaping business and takes care of Veteran’s Field, where the Chatham A’s play. During this time of year, wealthy families come to town to vacation, and live on Shore Road, the wealthier part of town.
Ryan, in his dedication to making the pros, he has sworn off girls and beer to avoid distractions, even to the point of sleeping on the field the night before the first practice. But after partying with his friends, and sleeping with Dede Mulligan (Brittany Murphy), he oversleeps, is missing his clothes, and shows up late to practice inside the clubhouse, wearing Dede’s clothing.
The next day, Ryan sees Tenley Parrish (Jessica Biel) for the first time, as he and his father are mowing the Parrish family’s lawn. That evening, Ryan joins his friends and teammates at the bar, The Oasis, managed by his older brother Mike (Jason Gedrick). Before tensions get high between Ryan and the rival pitcher and teammate Van Leemer (Corey Pearson), Brubaker (Matthew Lillard) ushers him off to meet some ladies nearby, one of them being Tenley.
The next day, the A’s have their first game of the season, where Van Leemer shines pitching a shut out, while Ryan is told to walk the stands for donations. That evening at the Oasis, a scuffle starts up between Van Leemer and Ryan’s local friends Auggie Mulligan (Gabriel Mann) and Pete (Jed Rhein). Ryan comes over to break it up, but is stopped by his brother Mike and told to go outside. He storms off as Tenley comes in, who follows him outside. She teases him about his baseball uniform that she saw him in earlier, and they share their first kiss.
The next night Ryan is pitching in his first game of the season. The game goes well for the A’s until the last inning when Ryan gives up a grand slam, allowing the other team to take the lead and win the game. Ryan returns home from the game, to find his dad drunk and upset about the loss. Later, Ryan goes to see Tenley where he confides about his rocky relationship with his father and concerns about failing as a baseball player.
She tells him that if he wants to succeed, he needs to take bigger risks. The next morning, they both get lectures from their parents about their love life. Tenley’s dad (Bruce Davison) smugly tells her that he invited her ex-boyfriend to come visit. She storms off angry at the news, and later that night, she and Ryan take an evening swim in her pool as it’s raining, falling in love with each other, before being chased off by her dad.
The next night at the game, Brubaker finally gets his first hit breaking his slump and improves during the season. Meanwhile, Ryan is distracted by Tenley and feels a lot of pressure from scouts, family, the Parrish family, and friends. He is told that he’s getting the start for an upcoming big game, and is given a hard time from Van Leemer which doesn’t help his confidence or nerves. He goes to the Oasis to talk to his brother for support, but also receives no support.
The bad night continues when he goes to see Tenley at home, meets her ex-boyfriend, and is embarrassed by her parents in front of him. They have a huge fight in the driveway in which she tells him that her parents don’t know about them, and makes Ryan feel like he’s just a summer fling. The next night, Ryan starts out well in the big game, but comes apart later on. The loss causes him to be demoted from his starting position to the bullpen in a relief position.
Summer Catch (2001)
Directed by: Mike Tollin
Starring: Freddie Prinze, Jr., Jessica Biel, Fred Ward, Jason Gedrick, Brittany Murphy, Gabriel Mann, Bruce Davison, Marc Blucas, Matthew Lillard, Brian Dennehy
Screenplay by: Kevin Falls, John Gatins
Production Design by: John D. Kretschmer
Cinematography by: Tim Suhrstedt
Film Editing by: Harvey Rosenstock
Costume Design by: Juliet Polcsa
Set Decoration by: Steve Davis
Music by: George Fenton, Tarsha Vega
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, language and some drinking.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: August 24, 2001
Visits: 130
