The Rookie (2002/I)

Director:

John Lee Hancock

Writer (WGA):

Mike Rich (written by)

Release Date:

29 March 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

It's never too late to believe in your dreams.

Plot:

A Texas baseball coach makes the major league after agreeing to try out if his high school team made the playoffs.

Plot Keywords:

Coach | High School | Texas | Baseball | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Dennis Quaid	...	Jimmy Morris
Rachel Griffiths	...	Lorri Morris
Jay Hernandez	...	Joaquin 'Wack' Campos
Beth Grant	...	Olline
Angus T. Jones	...	Hunter Morris
Brian Cox	...	Jim Morris Sr.
Rick Gonzalez	...	Rudy Bonilla
Chad Lindberg	...	Joe David West
Angelo Spizzirri	...	Joel De La Garza
Royce D. Applegate	...	Henry
Russell Richardson	...	Brooks
Raynor Scheine	...	Frank
David Blackwell	...	Cal
Blue Deckert	...	Baseball Scout Dave Patterson
Danny Kamin	...	Durham Manager Mac (as Daniel Kamin)

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | New Zealand:G | Sweden:Btl | Canada:F (Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:G (Ontario) (video rating: 2004) | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | UK:U | USA:G (certificate #38665)

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

98 MPH Productions

Trivia:

Dennis Quaid did much of his own pitching, but he was doubled in shots that required truly fast pitches, by former minor league pitcher Jeff Dowdy. No special effects were used to enhance the speed of the pitches; however, some camera tricks, such as "whip pans," were used to make Quaid's own pitches appear faster.

Goofs:

Continuity: Several times during the game at The Ballpark in Arlington, the announced score does not match the score shown on the scoreboard.

Quotes:

Hunter: But Dad...
Jimmy: No buts about it... I'm getting enough butts as it is.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Getaway: (#17.5)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Embryonic Journey

Respectable Movie Worth A Look

Usually I review a movie just after I've seen it, but the last time I saw this one was a full 2 weeks ago. Yet it still sticks in my mind and heart.

Baseball movies are inspirational by nature and seem to have all kinds of application to life (for example, my review of Field of Dreams). Jimmy Morris challenges the losing baseball team he's coaching to not give up on their dreams and has the challenge thrown right back at him. This wouldn't make for such drama if the majority of the movie up to that point hadn't been to show how Jimmy's own dream had been systematically dismantled. Such movies anyone can write, but when I found out it was a true story, it put the movie in a higher bracket altogether.

The conflict between Jimmy and his father is played very well by both Quaid and Cox. At one point or another, you can just feel coldness of the walls built up between them. They're reaching out (Hunter's baseball glove, Jimmy's asking advice), but can they ever connect?

While some might balk (sorry) at the presence of Hunter, Jimmy's son, I think the kid adds a lot to the film. Baseball is all about kids, anyway. And it's good to see a son who looks up to and believes in his dad. That phase is over far too soon for most fathers to enjoy it enough. I think the dream is as much Hunter's as it is his father's.

The theme of the Rookie is "never give up on your dreams." That's laudable. But the affirmation of the importance of families, even through broken relationships, as well as a clean script, makes this one that families can buy to watch every now and then. Disney surprised me with this believable, down-to-earth tale. I'm definitely picking this one up on DVD.