The male friend I went to see For Love of the Game with remarked afterwards that he was surprised it hadn't been more of a guy movie. He figured baseball . . . equals guy movie, right? For those of you who might be similarly misinformed, let me make it clear right up front: For Love of the Game is not a Guy Movie. For Love of the Game is a Chick Flick.

Kevin Costner has now made three baseball movies--Bull Durham and Field of Dreams being the other two--but the film this one most reminds me of is his golf picture, Tin Cup. Like Tin Cup, For Love of the Game (hereafter known simply as "FLOTG") harbors two stories that don't live together in perfect harmony: one is a sports story, and the other is a love story.

And like Tin Cup, the sports story in FLOTG is a story well told. Billy Chapel is a 40-year-old pitcher who's been in the major leagues for 19 years and is probably on his last game. His ball club, the Detroit Tigers, is about to be sold, and he's about to be traded. Plus, his arm is more or less shot. The big game is a semi-important one in a lousy season, but something extraordinary is happening. Billy is throwing bullets. And as the innings pass, he isn't letting up a hit. As the possibility of throwing a perfect game increases, the tension mounts. Optimists will remember that this is a Hollywood movie, and therefore must end with the hero triumphant. Cynics will remember the way Tin Cup ended, and won't be so sure. (You may feel I have the optimists and cynics switched there . . . that would depend on how cynical you are.)

And again, as in Tin Cup, the other story is a love story, and here's where the trouble lies. In Tin Cup the problem was in the . . . how do I put this delicately? . . . bad performance of Renee Russo, who's a lousy comedian. In FLOTG there are problems on a couple of fronts.

One, some of the story of the relationship feels, like, missing. Costner has bitched about cuts made to the film, and I wonder if that's what I'm noticing. When Costner and Kelly Preston have their big break-up scene I feel like they're talking about issues I haven't seen played out on screen. That's unsatisfying.

The other problem with the love story is something I just hate to say. Before I get to it, let me emphasize something: Kelly Preston is yummy. Wait, that's no good. I should have a more writerly, more eloquent way of putting that. Okay, try this: Kelly Preston is yummy. She is such a gorgeous snuggle-bunny of smiles and silky hair that she ought to be sold in 2-gallon canisters at True Value. That's why it pains me to say that as a romantic lead she's somewhat . . . limited.

She does glowing well enough. And teary just fine. But something about her performance lacked credibility for me. And on screen with Costner, there's very little chemistry. Interestingly, I had some credibility issues with the characters in director Sam Raimi's last film, A Simple Plan, as well. Raimi's a marvelous technical director, but may just be too flamboyant for the straight emotional stuff. On the other hand, his technical direction here is so reserved that if his name wasn't in the credits, I never would have recognized it as Raimi.

Ultimately, I feel safe recommending For Love of the Game as a good date movie. You'll enjoy the sports stuff, and your date will enjoy the weepy love story. And if you find the love story a little too schmaltzy, pass your time gawking at the gorgeous Ms. Preston. John Travolta will probably beat the shit out of me for saying so, but she is one hot grilled cheese and coochie sandwich.

Enjoy.