62
Metascore
20 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood ReporterLike a good pitcher, Trevor Morgan varies his emotions and perfectly grooves his role as the high-school star. Huffing and puffing, Nolte plops around with brilliant finesse, smartly exposing this frustrated old ballplayer's inside strength and fears.
- 83Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklySucking at the top of many a can, and greedily slurping the sides of an overflowing bottle, Nolte gives a master class in how to drink a beer on screen. The rest of his work here is sad, understated, and worth seeking out.
- 70VarietyJustin ChangVarietyJustin ChangAnchored by a terrific performance from Nick Nolte as a grizzled umpire who gets an unexpected second chance at fatherhood, this easygoing comedy-drama plays out slowly but assuredly, infusing a conventional story about a blossoming relationship with welcome reserves of honesty and humor.
- 70Village VoiceVillage VoiceA disarmingly droll and insightful indie.
- 70Film ThreatEric CamposFilm ThreatEric CamposIt's a touching story of father and son type male bonding -- male bonding with Nick Nolte no less -- that's bound to find some audience members blubbering by film's end.
- 63ReelViewsJames BerardinelliReelViewsJames BerardinelliI appreciate that Ponsoldt doesn't go for cheap tears through over-sentimentality, but his detached, low-key approach distances viewers from the characters. I watched the drama unfold from afar but was never involved on an emotional level.
- 60L.A. WeeklyL.A. WeeklyOff the Black gradually establishes its own peculiar cranky rhythm, fighting to resist the usual male-bonding sentimentality. But despite some nice touches, this is the sort of too-precious indie film that gives its characters unnecessary quirks.
- 60SalonAndrew O'HehirSalonAndrew O'HehirI think the movie is so restrained, and holds back so much on conventional plot and characterization, that its emotional impact is severely blunted. Nolte is excellent, I suppose, but we've seen this damaged-American-dude shtick from him before.
- 58Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerChristian Science MonitorPeter RainerPlaying a cantankerous, beer-swigging human wreck of a man for the umpteenth time, Nolte is very good but very familiar.
- 50The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayNolte almost makes it work.