The Rookie [Blu-ray] starring Ernest
Vidaure, Royce D. Applegate, Jay
Hernandez, Matt Williams (IX), Angelo
Spizzirri
Really Good Movie!
Jim Morris, the real-life hero of The Rookie, has an inspirational story all
but guaranteed to put a smile on anyones face. Happily, this G-rated
Disney drama, based on Morriss published memoir of the same title, is
suitable for an all-ages audience. Blessed with an awesome fastball,
Morris nursed dreams of pitching for Major League Baseball during his
20s; injuries and bad luck, however, forced him to give up hope and
become a teacher and coach. Years later, pressed by students and
colleagues to try out for the Show one more time, Morris discovered he still
had a powerful arm, and he was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The
Rookie is at its best throughout this first chapter in Morriss midlife
adventure, though the rest of the film finds fresh angles on more familiar
baseball-movie conventions. Dennis Quaid is soulful and charismatic as
Morris, perfect in his depiction of a man both thankful and startled that
destiny has given one of the good guys his due. Appropriate for ages 4
and up. --Tom Keogh
There have been hundreds of movies made about baseball: some
forgetable duds, many decent films, and a few all time classics that define
how baseball is a reflection of America. The film `The Rookie is in this
latter category. It is the true life (although heavily dramatized, Im sure)
story of Jim Morris, a high school teacher and baseball coach in Texas
who attended a tryout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the urging of his
players and eventually made it to the majors for the first time in his mid-
30s, an unprecedented event. The thing that makes this movie great is
that it is about more than just baseball, it is about dreams. Many people
dream about doing great things, but it takes courage and determination to
actually get up and do it and overcome the fear of failure. Jimmy Morris
always dreamed about playing baseball and spent some time in the minors
as a young man, getting hurt and never making it to the major leagues.
His desire to play baseball never left him though, and even after he got
married, started a family, and settled down to a regular job, he never forgot
his dream. Unlike most people, he got a second chance to try to do what
he loved and he made the most of his opportunity. Throw in a beautiful,
spunky wife (played by Rachel Griffiths) and a complex, unhappy
relationship with his father, and you have a great story. There are so many
great scenes in this movie that are so well done and so memorable. Jim
making it to the big leagues is great, of course (I imagine that virtually
anyone would be in a daze the first time they sit in a big league dugout).
The best scene of the movie is the one where Jim tosses a ball past a
traffic radar to see how fast he is throwing and the reading gives a speed
in the high seventies (mph), and as Jim walks away to pick up the ball, the
reading changes to a velocity in the high 90s. All time classic! People will
be watching this 100 years from now. Is this movie cheesy and over -
melodramatic at times? You bet. A great family movie? Absolutely! It
would be great if every American, once in their life, could feel like Jim
Morris when he comes out of the bullpen for the first time. Most of us may
never get that chance, but it is great watching Jim do it!
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