Sugar tells the story of a young man from the Dominican Republic who tries to make a career for himself in baseball. He’s a pitcher and his ultimate goal is to play for a pro team in the USA and pitch in Yankee Stadium. Sugar, the character is very likeable and easy to feel for. He has to succeed not only to pursue his own dreams but to help his family. He is young and in over his head for most, if not all, of the film. It would be easy to say this movie is all about the plight of it’s title character but that wouldn’t be quite right. It’s about the American dream, what some people will go through to get it and what can happen to them if they fall short. It’s also about immigration.
You’re not likely to recognize any of the films characters. Since the main character is from the DR, and part of the story takes place there, most of the movie is in Spanish so if that’s not your language then you’ll need to invoke the subtitles. That doesn’t take away from the film thought. It is surprising engaging and heart warming as well, though not overly so. This wouldn’t have been a film I would have taken a chance on in the theater but I found it to be a great film to watch at home in intimate company. I give it a 3 and a half out of 4 marks. It came close to getting a 4.