SCREWBALL

SCREWBALL

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 -- What perfect timing to release a comical documentary about one of the biggest scandals in American baseball history, than on Opening Day of a potentially interesting baseball season.

Director Billy Corben takes an absolutely hilarious look at the doping scandal that involved the Yankees Alex Rodriguez and over a dozen other MLB players as well as a known PED dealer Tony Bosch. To dramatize the shenanigans, Corben uses kids as the real characters avatars.

It revolves around the whistleblower Porter Fischer a self described professional tanning spa junkie and how he gets involved with Bosch who was masquerading as a doctor in south Florida. because he offered some good advice on how to use PED's effectively, he falls into a lucrative business turning tanning jelly-bellies into studs. His thriving business caught the eye of several MLB players including Alex Rodriguez, who wanted to enhance their performance on the field and were willing to shell out big bucks.

But when things go bad, Bosh tries to slip out the back door, only he owed Fischer $4000 - and Fischer wasn't about to let him off the hook. So, Fischer blabbed to the news, then to MLB, then to the feds. His blabbing took the investigation straight to A-Rod's front door an then to headlines everywhere. Corben's lighthearted take is not only entertaining but very informative as he answers all the questions that were left unanswered in the press.

Using the kids as avatars was a brilliant move as you will crack up with the various wigs each dons so that you know whom he represents.

"Screwball" is what you might call a docucomedy that even people who aren't fans of the sport will enjoy. What's even more amusing is how, just about everyone landed on their feet after all was said and done. WOW! -- GRADE A -- GEOFF BURTON

GEOFF BURTON