HOME RUN
An entertaining baseball drama with a powerful message about Jesus.
Should You Watch It?
HOME RUN is an entertaining, well-written drama with good acting, especially from Scott Elrod as Cory. Its dialogue builds surprises and develops character, while its polished look and realism give the story weight.
The film discusses difficult subjects, including addiction, sexual abuse, porn, and cocaine use, without showing the most disturbing material. That restraint makes the movie somewhat slower, but the adult themes still call for parents’ discernment. The film’s answer is a 12-step program centered on Jesus Christ, giving it a powerful evangelistic message.
If your family includes middle schoolers and older children who can handle these subjects, HOME RUN is worth seeing. Younger children should wait.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESCory is a star baseball player whose alcohol abuse and reckless behavior threaten his career. After an outburst during a game, he must return to his small Oklahoma hometown and join a church-hosted 12-step program focused on Jesus.
As Cory begins coaching a Little League team, old family wounds and strained relationships confront him. The question is whether he will keep pretending he can manage his life—or admit that he needs help and Jesus Christ.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means HOME RUN is a highly entertaining and skillfully made film. The writing is a major strength: the dialogue builds surprises and develops the characters. The acting is good, especially Scott Elrod as Cory.
Everything about the movie looks professional, and director David Boyd gives it an excellent sense of realism. The discussions of difficult subjects sometimes slow the movie down, but the overall result remains a well-written, polished drama with an effective message.
The Worldview
HOME RUN presents a strongly Christian, evangelistic, and moral worldview. It portrays alcoholism as destructive and connects Cory’s struggles to the sins of his father, an alcoholic baseball player who mistreated him. The film also values family, honesty, responsibility, and the possibility of change.
Its central answer is that recovery cannot rest only on human effort. Cory must participate in a 12-step program and accept Jesus Christ. The film discusses sexual abuse, porn addiction, and cocaine addiction rather than showing them, but these subjects still form part of its adult framework.
The film’s central longing is for freedom from inherited sin and destructive habits. Its message aligns with Scripture’s promise: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian, evangelistic, moral worldview about a drunk baseball player coming to Christ; three light obscenities and one profanity; light violence includes car accident, man slugs another man, man accidentally elbows bat boy, and some athletic action violence plus drunk father keeps drilling fast balls at young boy; discussions in a 12-step group of sexual abuse and porn addiction, kissing; no nudity; lots of alcohol use and references to alcoholism; no smoking but discussion of cocaine addiction; and, lying, deception, closet drinking, tattoos, theft, reckless driving.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Cory’s struggles reflect the damage done by his father. How can sin be passed through a family, and where does personal responsibility begin?
Exodus 20:5–6 · Ezekiel 18:20The film asks whether Cory can change through his own effort. What is the difference between trying harder and receiving genuine help?
John 15:5 · Philippians 4:13What does it mean to bring addiction and other hidden sins into the light?
1 John 1:7–9 · James 5:16How does accepting Jesus change the kind of hope a person has?
John 8:36 · 2 Corinthians 5:17The Final Word
HOME RUN is polished, realistic, and strongly evangelistic. Its adult themes require discernment, but older children and adults can find a meaningful story about addiction, family wounds, and hope in Christ. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
