‘Fever’ pitches with no heat

Directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly are well known for their vulgar and politically incorrect films which keep their audiences laughing most of the time.

It’s hard to believe that “Fever Pitch” is even directed by the infamous Farrelly brothers; it lacks the offensive humor and crude stunts of “Dumb & Dumber” and “Me, Myself & Irene.”

Perhaps a distasteful but funny joke would have made this movie more likable.

“Fever Pitch” stars Drew Barrymore as Lindsey Meeks, a 30-year-old businesswoman competing for a promotion at work. She meets high school math teacher Ben Wrightman (played by Jimmy Fallon, former cast member of “Saturday Night Live”).

Ben is a diehard Red Sox fan and has been so since age seven when he first moved to Boston. Lindsey and Ben begin dating during the baseball off-season.

Their relationship is going smoothly until the season begins and Ben begins focusing all of his attention on the Red Sox.

He has not missed a game in 23 years. Not only does he have season tickets, but he and his friends even travel to Florida for spring training with the team.

The film does an excellent job of showing the passion of baseball fans. Fallon does well playing an obsessed Red Sox fan, but he doesn’t fare well as a romantic lead.

Barrymore pleases as usual. Her performance of Lindsey is lovable and sweet. This film would have turned out much better with a different male romantic lead, perhaps one whose jokes were funny.

The chemistry between Barrymore and Fallon is almost non-existent and definitely not believable.

Some of the supporting characters that play Ben’s friends, Lindsey’s friends and other Red Sox season ticket holders provide laughs and help bring the film some life.

Baseball fans, especially Red Sox fans, will love the historical tidbits laced throughout the film. And of course, the film coincides with the remarkable 2004 season in which the Red Sox won the World Series.

In short, there are plenty of better ways to spend $8. “Fever Pitch” would be OK as a rental, but it’s not worth paying full-price to see on the big screen.

Grade: C