| 17 July 2007
#2 Little Big League
I know I know I know. It has been too long since the last post, and I apologize. This whole working world thing sucks, as do the other "writers". But here we go with the countdown.
Little Big League: the youth baseball movie you forgot about. But it is certainly one of the best, especially when viewed a few years after your childhood. As ridiculous as it sounds, the premise is actually believable... well, more believable than movies about a 100 mph fastball throwing 12-year-old or angels helping the Angels win the pennant.
Starring:
Luke Edwards - As Billy Heywood, he plays a pretty convincing part. Even though he's just reading lines, he really seems like he knows baseball (hell, I learned not to bunt my #3, #4, or #5 batters because of him). Too bad he doesn't convince anyone else of his acting talent. His second best movie is American Pie 2 as "High School Guy".
Timothy Busfield - Best known for the line "Don't sell the farm" from Field of Dreams, Tim is pretty awesome in this flick as well. He plays the usual "old-time player/coach that hits on the main kid's semi-hot mom" role.
Jonathan Silverman - My favorite character. He figures out how many hours it took for those two guys to paint the house. He also had the glove pump-up thing and the water balloon shenanigans. When your last name is Bowers, you can't really help but be the team cut-up.
Dennis Farina - Probably the best actor in the movie. Went on to Law and Order fame as well as played a pretty awesome bad-ass in Snatch.
Plot Summary
Billy's grandfather dies and leaves him ownership of the Twins (wish it was the Pirates). When Dennis Farina doesn't stop being what I would figure Dennis Farina truly is like, Billy fires him. After impressing the assistant coach by explaining one game situation, he activates himself as coach. After the usual kid antics and the team starts winning, Billy gets sour and forgets his friends. Then he remembers them, and they make it to the playoffs. However, in a nice twist, they lose (only movie besides Friday Night Lights where I can think of this happening). But everyone's happy and the old player gets the mom.
Shaky Premises:
Kids would fish for fun.
Someone wouldn't know the horse's name was Friday.
Probably the best thing Rickey Henderson has done in the past 20 years, and he didn't actually appear in the movie.
The daughter of the owner of a baseball team would be single. Really? Not many guys out there would bend over backwards for the tickets alone?
Best Lines
Joey: If I owned the Twins, I wouldn't even show up here. I'd just hire a bunch of scientists to do my homework. I mean, if you're rich you don't have to be smart. That's the whole beauty of this country.
O'Farrell: Hey 'Blackout! I didn't get you for your curve ball. I don't like your curve. I hate your curve. You know why? Because the damn thing don't curve!
Do you think in his whole life, Batman ever ate at McDonalds or KFC?
Final Thoughts
If you don't believe me about this movie, you need to check it out again. It really is better than you remember, though still ridiculously corny. But trust me, it's not the same movie as when you were nine.
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