BIG HIT, COMEDY OF ERRORS.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

WHEN BARRY BONDS launched his record-breaking 73rd home run into the right-field bleachers of San Francisco's Pac Bell Park on an October Sunday 3 1/2 years ago, dozens of fans reached for a ball that was the equivalent of a lottery ticket falling from the sky. Out of the scrum emerged Patrick Hayashi, sheepishly holding the souvenir. We hear someone scream, ``This isn't his!'' Too late. Park security has whisked Hayashi away.

The melee was caught on what has come to be known as The Keppel Tape, footage that was the starting point for Michael Wranovics' hugely entertaining documentary ``Up for Grabs.'' Upon further review, it turns out Hayashi didn't actually catch Bonds' home run; another fan, Alex Popov, did, right in his glove. But Hayashi ended up with the ball, producing an eventual court battle over possession that easily symbolizes everything that's wrong with American sports (not to mention our society) today.

Thankfully, Wranovics doesn't hammer the larger points home, content to let the combatants speak for themselves and make his audience glean the larger meanings. Wranovics' biggest piece of luck is that the initially sympathetic Popov turns out to be a bigger jerk than Bonds - an unlikely feat given the controversy over the surly slugger's tainted home run record. Popov is a movie villain straight out of Central Casting. Who needs Darth Vader with this guy around?

Wranovics cannily creates suspense, shifting his loyalties as new facts come to light. Even if you vaguely remember the outcome of this absurd episode, there are enough surprises and revelations to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The film never allows you to forget the idiocy of this grade-school, playground battle (finders, keepers!) over an inanimate object. As baseball announcer Jon Miller puts it, the ball can't talk to you. It can't tell you stories. It can't keep you company.

That doesn't stop the self-important Popov from confidently mortgaging his assets to pursue the ball and, just as importantly, his 15 minutes of fame. ``I'm the guy who caught the ball,'' Popov tells an attractive woman outside Pac Bell Park, not letting the fact that he has a girlfriend stop him from hitting on her.

Catch it, he did; keep it, he did not. (Sorry Yoda.) Without spoiling the ending, let's just say that, for once, justice prevails. The only thing that could top this would be for Bonds himself to take a permanent vacation, sparing us the need for asterisks and the spectacle of another scrum.

Glenn Whipp, [phone]

glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com

UP FOR GRABS - Three stars

(Not rated: strong language)

Director: Michael Wranovics.

Running time: 1 hr. 28 min.

Playing: Laemmle's Fallbrook in West Hills; Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena; Laemmle's Sunset 5 in West Hollywood.

In a nutshell: Hugely entertaining documentary about the schoolyard battle for a freakin' baseball.

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Photo:

Alex Popov catches Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run ball in footage from ``Up for Grabs,'' a documentary about the ensuing corrosive dispute over the ball's ownership.