The Rookie (2002/I)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

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

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 11	8:00 PM	AMC
Sun. July 12	5:00 PM	AMC

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

Color:

Color (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 (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:G (Ontario) (video rating: 2004) | 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:

The movie theater marquee shows the title of the baseball classic Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), also directed by a John Hancock (John D. Hancock) (no relation).

Goofs:

Continuity: At The Ballpark at Arlington, the bat used by the batter prior to Morris coming in to pitch, changes between shots. It starts black, but changes to natural wood. The batter gets a hit with the natural wood bat but when the runner scores he steps over a black bat.

Quotes:

Lorri: So how does it feel to be the oldest rookie in the last 30 years?
Jimmy: I don't know... I'm tired.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday To You

Actually two one-hour movies, great inspirational stories.

My favorite films are those which are based on an interesting true story, and are well made. "The Rookie" fits that bill, and I rate it very highly. At first glance it appears to be about getting to play baseball. In fact, it is about making your dreams come true, and the power of friendship. Baseball just happens to be the subject matter. The first one-hour movie is about a 10-member high school team in West Texas that barely manages to win one game each year. It is about their coach inspiring them to become the district champs and go to the state tournament in 1999.

The second one-hour movie comes about from a "deal" the kids made with the coach. "If we win district, then you have to go to a tryout with a professional baseball team." They do, so he does. And to his and everyone else's surprise, his 85-mph fastball as a 20-year-old has become a 98-mph one as a 35-year-old. The films hints that it might have been divine intervention, a prayer to St Rita, the patron of the impossible. Might have been!!

Dennis Quaid is a bit older than 35, but he does a good job and is believable as science teacher, coach, and finally a surprised big-league pitcher in Arlington, Tx stadium, where he strikes out his very first big-league batter. The real Jim played two seasons, not particularly distinguished, but that point is way secondary. The journey, and the way he made it, with support from family and his baseball kids is what this film is all about.

The DVD is very nice, with a great picture and decent use of the 5.1 Dolby surround sound. Extras include footage of the real Jim, some original footage of his playing days, and his narration and re-enactment of his first trip to a big-league mound. Great stuff! Plus a few, moderately interesting deleted scenes explained by the director.