This film was very much on an even keel the entire way, it didn't get too high, nor too low.
If you like baseball yarns, it'd make for a good matinee. Dennis Quaid does a very credible job looking like a 40 year old trying to chase a 20 year old dream that got away from him in his youth. He plays Jim Morris as a man with a lot of real world responsibilities, and the dream of getting one last shot in the majors tugging equally as hard.
Good baseball movies are usually about life, and this one was no exception. While being rather predictable, it had a gentle warmth to the overall tone of the film. There are some quiet laughs, and plenty of cute shots of Morris's son, Hunter, who steals every scene he is in. Rachel Griffiths does a good job with a Texas accent (she's British, BTW), and does keep Jim grounded for most of the film, but she's smart enough to understand the adage "if you love someone, set them free...(to chase their dreams)."
The high school baseball team that Morris coached is full of characters that bring quite a few chuckles in the 1st part of the film, as do the 3 old-timers that add humorous commentary to what's going on in the film.
All in all, the audience that I saw the film with did not seem all that bored with the film, in spite of its 2 hour running time. This film does take ample time to cover much of Jim Morris's journey, and maybe it's true: You can go back home.
I rate it 3 stars, or a grade of B (for baseball).
PatCave; HT Pix;Gear;DIY Projects;DVDs; LDs
If you like baseball yarns, it'd make for a good matinee. Dennis Quaid does a very credible job looking like a 40 year old trying to chase a 20 year old dream that got away from him in his youth. He plays Jim Morris as a man with a lot of real world responsibilities, and the dream of getting one last shot in the majors tugging equally as hard.
Good baseball movies are usually about life, and this one was no exception. While being rather predictable, it had a gentle warmth to the overall tone of the film. There are some quiet laughs, and plenty of cute shots of Morris's son, Hunter, who steals every scene he is in. Rachel Griffiths does a good job with a Texas accent (she's British, BTW), and does keep Jim grounded for most of the film, but she's smart enough to understand the adage "if you love someone, set them free...(to chase their dreams)."
The high school baseball team that Morris coached is full of characters that bring quite a few chuckles in the 1st part of the film, as do the 3 old-timers that add humorous commentary to what's going on in the film.
All in all, the audience that I saw the film with did not seem all that bored with the film, in spite of its 2 hour running time. This film does take ample time to cover much of Jim Morris's journey, and maybe it's true: You can go back home.
I rate it 3 stars, or a grade of B (for baseball).
PatCave; HT Pix;Gear;DIY Projects;DVDs; LDs
