The Rookie Review
by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)April 2nd, 2002
THE ROOKIE
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2002 David N. Butterworth
*** (out of ****)
As baseball movies go, Disney's "The Rookie" isn't in the same league as, say, "Bull Durham" or "For the Love of the Game," but it plays from the heart and that, I believe, is its major strength.
It's predictable and clichéd, for sure, and there's nothing really remarkable about it in the final analysis, but I enjoyed watching it and so too did my three kids, the youngest of whom made it through the relatively long running time of two hours plus with only a modicum of fidgeting, which quite surprised me really given that she's only three. John Lee Hancock's film is certainly slow moving, even pedestrian at times, yet it cranks out a lot of genuinely heartwarming moments along the way.
Maybe watching "The Rookie" with children actually improves the experience somewhat; helps one recognize and appreciate life's simple and honest-to-goodness moments (there are a *lot* of these in the film).
Based on a true story, "The Rookie" follows the hopes and dreams of Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid), a high school science teacher from Big Lake, Texas who gets a shot at the major leagues when the baseball team he's coaching cuts him a deal. If they can win their division title, coach has to tryout for the majors.
It's that arm of his they can't help but notice. Jim used to pitch 86 miles an hour back in his youth (the film shows us his army brat upbringing and that super stern father of his who never showed much interest, U-Hauling them from state to state at the whim of the military) and, even though a shoulder injury cut his career short early on, Jim doesn't seem to have lost his touch any in the ensuing years. The 40-year-old semi-reluctantly agrees to the proposition--there's a twinkle in his eye that makes you realize he really wants this, even though he has a wife (played by the ever dependable Rachel Griffiths) and kids and very real responsibilities now--and before you know it the Owls, who've only won two games in their last two seasons, soon have a 16 and 0 record to contend with.
If you stick with this restrained and wonderfully heartfelt film right down to its final fastball you won't find a whole lot of surprises along the way. Except, perhaps, for a real love of the game, plus a family-friendly atmosphere throughout (it's a rarity these days to find a non-animated G-rated feature that you can take the kids to, even those who don't particularly thrill to the idea of a 120-minute baseball drama going in).
Because "The Rookie" is a well acted and nicely photographed film that goes beyond the ballgame at its center, taking the time to detail and uphold its straightforward message that "it's never too late to believe in your dreams."
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David N. Butterworth
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
