EEPHUS Review: A Loving Ode To Pointless Athletics

Opening

Pointless athleticism can range from an excuse to hang out with your buddies or a reason to get away from your wife. Whatever the reason, Carson Lund’s Eephus is a testament to the importance and pointlessness of middle-aged athletics can be on a group of men.

Synopsis…Kind Of

In a small town in Massachusetts in the 1990s, the Adler’s Paint team faces the River Dogs at their beloved baseball stadium, Soldier’s Field. While the county board opts to raze the field to make room for a new school, the teams return for one last game before the demolition.

If that doesn’t sound like much plot-wise, it’s because there isn’t a plot. Two teams play on a field they always play at, but they do it for the last time. There isn’t a last-ditch effort to save the field, nothing will be gained. It’s just a game these guys don’t want to stop playing.

This is not a story of men holding on to their last bit of glory. Instead, this is a group of middle-aged men with bad backs who all know they are well past their prime. Legging out a double means something much different when you have a tight hamstring or a slipped disc in your back. At the same time, they all take the game a bit too seriously with full uniforms and umpire gripes.

Themes/Style

The entire film is at a leisurely pace. There is no urgency to finish the game, just like there is no urgency to pay attention to what is happening on the field. Though we are given snippets of the action, the actual game is never of that much importance. Instead, we see small pockets of interactions between players, the occasional smattering of spectators. It’s as relaxing as a lazy Summer day, but it all takes place in mid-October.

It’s as if the guys from The Sandlot were still doing the same thing in their 40s. And it has that same feeling. The guys bust balls, complain about everything, but don’t ever want to stop playing. This is the end of an era, and they know it will never come back. There’s something sad and heartwarming about playing a silly game that doesn’t matter, but the fact that it’s the last time gives purpose to the silliness.

The film acts as a true ensemble piece. No one actor stands above the other, just as these players are all equally mediocre. That being said, all the actors fill out their characters with aplomb. It’s an odd film to review for the performances, because you can say that all the performances are good, without one elevating above another. This isn’t the kind of story that lifts an actor out of the fold. They all blend in to their positions on the field and in the film.

Even the action on the field barely matters. Sometimes the score is unknown and there are constant outs and hits spattered throughout without consequence. The actual game score doesn’t matter, but the action of the game is much more important. It’s the last time, so that’s what makes it important. But, it’s all done with a relaxed attitude on a lazy afternoon. It’s all about the vibes.

Conclusion

If you ever wanted to jump back into the world of the kids from The Sandlot at middle age, then Eephus is right up your alley. Enjoy the leisurely pace and watch these men relive their lack of glory days.

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