Watch Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story

Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story is a sports comedy film released in 2010. The movie follows the rise and fall of Ted Whitfield, a once-promising baseball star who becomes infamous for his drug addiction and outlandish behavior. The film is presented in a documentary-style format, with interviews from various characters involved in Ted's life, including his former teammates, coaches, and ex-girlfriends. Through these interviews, we see how Ted's career started off on a high note, with him being scouted by major league teams straight out of high school. However, after a series of injuries and some bad decisions, Ted's career quickly spirals out of control.

The lead character, Ted Whitfield, is played by Ross Patterson. Ted is portrayed as a charming and charismatic athlete but with some deep-rooted personal issues that he struggles to overcome. His behavior becomes erratic when he's not playing baseball, and his addiction to drugs becomes a central focus of the story. Patterson delivers a dynamic performance, seamlessly transitioning between Ted's high moments and low moments, and truly embodies the flawed character.

Joey Kern plays the role of Jerry, Ted's best friend and fellow teammate. Jerry acts as both a comic relief and a supporting character, providing a contrast to Ted's over-the-top behavior. Kern delivers excellent comic timing, which helps to lighten the mood in some of the film's darker moments.

Christine Lakin portrays the role of Jessica, Ted's ex-girlfriend. Jessica is a former beauty queen who fell in love with Ted during his early years in college. She provides insight into Ted's personal life, explaining how his addiction and behavior affected their relationship. Lakin, while having a relatively small role in the film, manages to bring depth to Jessica's character and deliver a moving performance.

The film's direction, by Tommy Reid, is steady, and he manages to balance the comedic and dramatic elements of the movie effectively. Reid uses creative visual techniques to keep the audience engaged, such as utilizing archival footage of Ted's baseball games and inserting animated graphics over interviews to visualize Ted's thoughts.

The writing, by Ross Patterson and Timm Sharp, is witty and insightful. The film's humor and satire are never at the expense of the characters, and the movie portrays the story with sensitivity, even during its darker moments. The film's themes of addiction, fame, and personal responsibility are explored empathetically, but with a dose of humor - making Screwball an entertaining watch.

The film's supporting cast is also noteworthy, with standout performances by Matt Bush, Vivica A. Fox, and Richard Riehle, to name a few. The film features an eclectic mix of characters, each with their own unique perspective on Ted's life, and the supporting cast brings each one to life with humor and subtlety.

Overall, Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story delivers on its promise of being a sports comedy with a heart. The movie manages to balance humor and sincerity in a way that's reminiscent of some of the best sports comedies of the '80s and '90s. While it may not be the most groundbreaking film in terms of its message, it's an entertaining watch that will leave audiences rooting for Ted - flaws and all.

Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story is a 2010 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8.