I Bet You Didn't See... Fever Pitch

Oh, what to say about Fever Pitch? As an Arsenal fan, this is a cult film that is a must watch. If you enjoy funny, daft, and plain silly quotable laughs, Fever Pitch fits the bill. This is a film that shows everyone had fun creating it and there is so much within it that shows us how the crew are not taking themselves seriously and loving it.

Paul (Colin Firth), a high school English teacher and Arsenal fanatic, lives his life entirely by Arsenal and the football season. Football takes precedence over everything. Upon meeting a new teacher Sarah (Ruth Gemmell) at the school and hitting it off with her in a rather unorthodox manner, he narrates us through the 1988-89 football season as he experiences it with his best mate Steve (Mark Strong). Paul spends the film fighting to juggle his love to his football club, his relationship with Sarah and the concept that not everyone’s life is dictated by the football season.

Ruth Gemmell as Ms Sarah Hughes

The film is interspersed with flashbacks to Paul’s childhood and his introduction, and quick obsession, with football and Arsenal F.C. The opening childhood sequence ends with a scene mirrored very cleverly with the final shot.

"Leave it up to Arsenal to score one goal when they need two." "You want them to score the second goal before they score the first?"

The most enjoyable part of this film is how the spectator can relate to Paul, in terms of passion for something. Think about what you have the most passion for, that one thing you will drop everything to pay attention to. That is Paul and Arsenal. Moments like completely ignoring an important conversation to listen to an update on the radio about a goal or insisting on the school football team holding their defensive line the Arsenal team and needing to be reminded that he is the linesman so needs to give the offside himself. This isn’t a mickey-take. People live like this and the film (and Firth) have it portrayed perfectly.

The seemingly ludicrous behaviour of both the leads is supported by the wonderfully lively soundtrack. The La’s, Lisa Stansfield, The Who and Fine Young Cannibals are just a few that make this soundtrack so memorable and almost iconic. And this goes for the script. There are numerous quotable lines, particularly for football fans. From insulting friends, to restricting where you can live, to feelings about sports in general, there are so many lines that can be taken, quoted or paraphrased, and still be just as funny or meaningful.

Steve: Stanley Matthews was playing First Division football when he was fifty.

Paul: I'll bet you any money you like you're not playing First Division football when you're fifty.

Steve: Well, no. It's the smoking.

Paul: It's not the smoking, Steve. It's the crapness.

Technically, this film is not special, but that is made up for by the ridiculousness of it. The slow-motion moment near the end (it’s no secret what happens, but I’m not going to be specific!) is bonkers, hilarious, stupid and so very true for sports fans. I’ve been to games when you feel time has almost stopped!

Speaking honestly, Fever Pitch is crap. But it is fun crapness. It tells a story of passion, love and compromise that is layered across life, and is so daft. Well worth the watch.

"Why is it that adults aren't supposed to go mad about anything?"

Based on: Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby

Screenplay by: Nick Hornby

Directed by: David Evans

Starring: Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Ruth Gemmell, Ken Stott

Release Date: 4 April 1997

Rating: 8/10