Rookie, The
I love baseball! More so, now, over the past few years because I've come to
appreciate and understand the real feeling for the game that I hadn't had
before. I'm glad I did, because it's such a good game with a lot of feeling
and pride behind it. This spring catch a few games with your friends on
the bleachers when the sun is hot and the breeze is warm, where the dust
will be flying and the crack of the bat hitting the ball will send the
crowd roaring like lions! So root for your team with all that's inside you.
The Rookie is as all-American as a picnic on the Fourth of July. What makes
this movie even more special than a classic Hollywood ending would have you
hoping for, is something so remarkable and special in storytelling. You
won't see this script thrown under a hundred other scripts because this one
comes from the true life story of Jim Morris and it's a beauty of a story
that will give you goose bumps of joy!
The beginning of the movie offers some inside statistics about Jim's
childhood. Yes, there was an awful lot of traveling due to the fact his
dad, Jim Morris, Sr. (Brian Cox), was in the service and his mom (Beth
Grant) held the pieces together. Fourteen moves later, Jim Morris' family
settles in Texas and that is where this story will continue. Jim Morris
(Dennis Quaid) hoped to make it big as a star baseball player in the
Majors, but an unfortunate shoulder injury put an end to that. Now, he's
teaching high school chemistry and coaching the Owls baseball team, but he
still dreams of that goal he held strong. He's happily blessed with a
loving and supportive wife, Lorri (Rachel Griffiths), and their three
darling children, especially with his son, Hunter (Angus T. Jones), who
just lights up when his daddy is playing ball. He's always by his side and
looks up to him so much. One day Joaquin "Wack" Campos (Jay Hernandez) and
his team of misfits baseball players make a bet with the coach; if they win
the district championship, the coach will try out for the Major Leagues.
Well, the team did it, and now the coach is faced with the obligation of
trying out for the Majors and then to his family where a new job
opportunity has presented itself with financial dollar signs all over it.
Quaid is a genuine shining star; he's able to transform into this role with
such a connection to the true spirit of Jim Morris' life. What an honor it
must have been to portray Morris' lifelong legacy of hope with such
decency, care, and outstanding perfectionism as Dennis Quaid projected on
screen. Dennis, you hit this one out of the ballpark! Rachel Griffiths
showed what love and support is all about and did so with remarkable
tenderness and humor. Jay Hernandez was so good in this part -- just
awesome! I really fell for his role -- great style, great presence on
screen. Trevor Morgan, who played the young Jim Morris, was delightful,
enigmatic, and quite a scene stealer; Angus T. Jones was adorable, a sweet
and talented little rascal! Overall, a most memorable cast gave it their
all and made this film a grand slam of family entertainment!
The Rookie is a movie that fills your need to have a movie hit home and
warm you with tender family entertainment that not only emphasizes belief,
faith, and reaching as far as you can with your dreams, but it's also a
"feel good" movie you can show your kids that will set sterling examples
for life. Also, among this being thoroughly enjoyable from start to
finish, best of all, it's a true story of dreams coming true.
Written by: Lynda Dale MacLean
Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 8.28
Reader's Votes: 7
Added: 20-Apr-2003
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