What's happened to Kevin Costner? This guy used to be one of my favorite actors, making amazing movies like "The Untouchables," "Field of Dreams" and "Dances With Wolves." Now he's either the "auteur" of bloated epics like "The Postman" or the poster boy for fortysomething romance in mediocre fare like "Message in a Bottle." His latest film, "For Love of the Game" continues Costner's celebration of all things bland.

I really wanted to like this movie. For one thing, Costner has done his best work in sports flicks. "Bull Durham" is one of my all-time favorites. And this new film covers the same territory. In both movies, Costner plays a talented ballplayer finding love in the twilight of his career. But where his "Bull Durham" character had a world-weary charm, this latest role is as stale as week-old bread.

There were a lot of opportunities here for some interesting storytelling. Costner's Billy Chapel is a 20-year baseball vet -- a throwback to the legends of yesteryear -- and he's toiling in a sport where people are more motivated by money than "for love of the game." This movie could have really explored the sacrifices someone makes for a career in sports. Illuminate what it's like to follow your dreams and then slowly see the game perverted by greed and big business. Unfortunately, everyone involved in this flick seems more interested in telling a superficial love story. What results is a movie more suited to the Lifetime Channel than the big screen.

For Love of the Game is a movie more suited to the Lifetime Channel than the big screen.

Director Sam Raimi probably had his reasons for playing it safe. As many of you know, Raimi cut his cinematic teeth on splatter fare like "The Evil Dead" films. While these movies had more laughs and creativity than many of their peers, Raimi has still been pigeon-holed as a "horror" director. I'm not a big fan of horror flicks, but I can tell you that Raimi is no hack. While I've always admired his whiplash camerawork and sense of humor, these same qualities have kept him confined to genre work.

Raimi finally received some long-overdue respect after directing last year's "A Simple Plan." He seems determined to prove that he's got more than one mainstream film in his system. Which is probably why Raimi toned down his signature style for this movie. While watching "For Love of the Game," I could almost hear him saying, "See guys? I'm as normal as the rest of you."

However, this movie could have benefited from some of his earlier exuberance. His previous efforts to break out of the horror ghetto -- the superhero flick "Darkman" and the Sharon Stone western "The Quick and the Dead" -- weren't great movies, but they had a visual style that was fun to watch. I understand that nobody wants hyperactive zooms and popping eyeballs in a love story, but "For Love of the Game" is so blah, you're hoping at least one zombie will arrive to liven things up a bit.

There are no zombies in this movie unless you count Kevin Costner. He seems to be sleepwalking as our hero. This guy's never been Olivier, but he's got an "everyguy" quality that really works when he connects with a part. I just didn't care enough about this character to sympathize with what he's going through: the loss of both his career and his girlfriend on the day that he pitches the most important game of his life.

There are no zombies in this movie unless you count Kevin Costner.

Kelly Preston plays the girlfriend. Since most of this movie is told in flashback from Billy's point of view, she doesn't get much time on her own to shine. I know she's capable of good work. Check out her scene-stealing performance as Tom Cruise's ex-girlfriend in "Jerry Maguire." Preston just doesn't have a lot to work with in this flick. We know she's strong, intelligent and independent because she tells us so. There are no scenes that really show her portraying those qualities on screen.

Most of the secondary characters in this movie share the same fate as Preston. They're little more than window dressing. John C. Reilly (Mark Wahlberg's sidekick from "Boogie Nights") gets the most development as Costner's catcher and best friend, but even that's confined to a few funny lines. The lack of strong characters really hurts this movie. There's a moment in the big finale when Costner's pitcher faces off against a batter -- a former teammate. These guys are supposed to be close friends so we should be riveted by this showdown. But we learn so little about this guy that when the big moment comes, we barely notice it.

The film is a little too preoccupied with looking good instead of being good.

Like I've said, this movie misses the ball on several occasions, but it really strikes out in its portrayal of Lakeland, Florida. Before you get too confused, let me explain. I'm a Florida native. One of the three that you'll ever meet. And I'm very passionate about my state's role in the film industry. I think Florida, especially Orlando, would make a great setting for movies. It's as colorful as Woody Allen's Manhattan and as memorable as Barry Levinson's Baltimore. But when Florida is usually seen in movies, it's either standing in for another setting or another location is standing in for it. For example, Orlando played Los Angeles in the opening minutes of "Lethal Weapon 3" and was St. Louis throughout "Parenthood."

A portion of "For Love of the Game" takes place in Lakeland. I don't have a problem with this setting. Florida is home to many big league teams during spring training. These scenes even open with a panoramic shot of Lakeland's beautiful beaches. Here's my problem:

There's no beach in Lakeland!

For those of you that don't know, Lakeland is a small landlocked town halfway between Orlando and Tampa. It is best known by locals as the corporate headquarters of Publix Super Markets. It's a nice little town, but it's no Miami Beach. I realize that I'm splitting hairs, but I just want my home portrayed accurately. If you were from Chicago, wouldn't it bug you if a movie turned Wrigley Field into an indoor stadium?

Those scenes in Lakeland would have been just as effective in a more accurate setting, but they certainly wouldn't have looked as pretty. Here's the fundamental problem with "For Love of the Game." It seems a little too preoccupied with looking good instead of being good. It's too bad, too. I was really in the mood for a smart, sexy film starring Kevin Costner as a ballplayer at a personal and professional crossroads.

Good thing I own a copy of "Bull Durham."