Review of Major League (1989) by K S — 17 Dec 2007

I just saw this movie again, and it is a lot of fun. You'll get the most out of this movie if you have a real love of baseball. I used to love the game growing up - in an era when ballplayers had a lot of heart.

This is a great underdog story - with a great hook: the owner wants them to lose so she can move the Indians to Miami. That was a smart idea. There are so many funny moments in this ensemble piece - that I forgive certain things - like Dennis Haysbert clearly not being from Cuba.

James Gammon is wonderful as the skipper - with all the weight and charm of old character actors of classic Hollywood. The only thing that I did not enjoy so much was the love subplot between Tom Berenger and Rene Russo - because it is pretty sappy.

But even in that, there are cute moments, like when he drives the bullpen car over to her place. This is a winner, and ranks along with Bull Durham as a classic baseball movie.