MONEYBALL | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"MONEYBALL"
(2011) (Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill) (PG-13)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: A major league baseball general manager uses the numbers provided by his young statistics wizard in hopes of creating a winning team in a highly unorthodox way.

PLOT:

Billy Beane (BRAD PITT) was once a high school baseball sensation, but his career in the majors fizzled. Now the GM of the Oakland Athletics, he's concerned that he's not going to be able to field a winning team in light of the owner not being willing to add anything extra to an already league low player salary pool. Realizing the team's veteran scouts and advisors, such as Grady Fusion (KEN MEDLOCK), don't see the real problem, Billy hires statistics wizard Peter Brand (JONAH HILL) away from the Cleveland Indians.

Peter has a different view regarding what players should be on the team, all based on various individual numbers and stats that, if aligned and manipulated properly, could yield a winning squad. And since Billy is desperate to avoid losing in the playoffs again and knowing full well that he's already losing his three top players, he decides to put his full faith in Peter and his highly unorthodox method of building a new team.

That decision -- that includes trading for players that no team wants anymore, such as catcher turned unlikely first baseman Scott Hatteberg (CHRIS PRATT), aging veteran David Justice (STEPHEN BISHOP) and pitcher Chad Bradford (CASEY BOND) with his highly unusual windup and delivery -- doesn't sit well with the advisors or manager Art Howe (PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN), especially since he's been given just a one-year contract.

He and Billy clash over the line-up and who should play where, all of which results in initially disastrous results. That worries Billy's 12-year-old daughter, Casey (KERRIS DORSEY), who lives with her mom (ROBIN WRIGHT) and believes that her dad will end up fired and have to move away.

Highly desirous of that not happening and wanting to prove this new system will work, Billy and Peter persevere, turning a joke of a team into a league leading contender that might go all of the way to the World Series.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're into movies about baseball and/or are fans of anyone in the cast, they might be interested.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For some strong language.

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