Nolte, looking time-worn and world weary, plays Ray Cook, who wallows in guzzling beer and umpires for high school baseball teams. When he spoils a game for a young pitcher, Dave Tibbel (Morgan) by calling a ball instead of a strike in a split-second close decision that walks in the winning run, Dave is furious. He and his buddies deface Ray’s property, but when Ray catches Dave, instead of calling the cops he puts him to work cleaning up the grounds. What develops is a friendly relationship in which Dave gains understanding of Ray, who in turn enjoys—and needs--having someone like a son around.

The plot twist comes when Ray asks Dave to come along pretending to be his son at a high school reunion in order to help Ray look more successful. There’s another reason we learn about in the course of the event. In addition, Ray takes Dave to visit Ray’s Alzheimer-stricken father, and Dave continues his pose as Ray’s son.

Timothy Hutton plays Dave’s depressed father, whose wife has left, and Sonia Feigelson does a nice job as Dave’s sister. Sally Kirkland has a warm role as an old flame whom Ray meets at the reunion.

There are loose ends that could use tightening and clarification, but “Off the Black” is steadily interesting because of the characterizations, the acting and the involvements. It is a warm film in which both the older man and the teenager have certain needs gratified, and none too soon.