Major League

Starring: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Rene Russo, Wesley Snipes, Dennis Haysbert, Bob Uecker, Neil Flynn
Directed by: David S. Ward
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Sport
1989

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: The owner of the Cleveland Indians (Margaret Whitton) wants the team to lose so attendance will drop and she can move the team to Florida. She hires a has-been manager (James Gammon), a washed up catcher (Tom Berenger), a loose cannon pitcher (Charlie Sheen), and an overconfident but fast outfielder (Wesley Snipes). The team is understandably pitiful, but can they rally and save the season- and the team?

Review:

Tim: Maybe I shouldn't love Major League. However, I am a Cleveland Indians fan, so I am not sure how that might bias my feelings about this movie. I don't know exactly why, but I think this is a great movie. It is one of the funniest sports comedies of all time, and really a comedy classic. This is a movie that works as a sports film, but also has some truly hilarious moments. Maybe my love for the Indians makes this somewhat biased, but I don't care- this is a great movie.

The Cleveland Indians are the perfect team to base a movie around. They have been so bad for so long that it is believable that they could be this awful. But, there is also something sad about the Indians that makes you want to root for them. I loved that this movie was about them.

There is also a surprisingly good cast in place here. I have never claimed that Tom Berenger is a good actor, but he works so well as the washed up catcher, trying to have one last summer on the diamond. He was perfect for this role, and I thought he did a good job. Charlie Sheen, on the other hand, gives the performance of the film. Ricky Vaughn is one of the greatest sports movie characters of all time, and Sheen was terrific in the role. From his haircut to his pitching form (I didn't care so much for the dangling earring), he feels like a realistic, exciting, likeable ballplayer. He was my favorite actor in the film.

Wesley Snipes is good as Willie Mays Hayes. I didn't think he was anything special, but he gives a good, entertaining, charismatic performance. I also liked Rene Russo in a smaller role. I wish she and Berenger had a better developed storyline, but I understand the need not to take too much away from the team storyline. Dennis Haysbert is good as the voodoo worshipping Cerrano. When I think about the entire cast, I am just amazed at how many memorable, enjoyable characters came out of this movie. I also just have to mention Bob Uecker, who is hilarious with every single line he utters.

Sports comedies and baseball movies are fairly easy to criticize, and I feel like this movie gets some undue criticism. I can't think of too many truly funny sports comedies that work on many different levels. Major League is certainly one. It never ventures into spoof territory- this actually does work as a legitimate baseball movie (sure, the events are a bit far-fetched, but they could feasibly happen) and it also works as a comedy. Sometimes I feel like the hardest achievement for a comedy is to know when NOT to funny. Too many movies throw hundreds of jokes at the audience, hoping a few of them stick. This movie is an example of a great comedy- the ones that know when to be funny, and when not to be. That restraint is one of the reasons I love this movie.

There are probably a lot of explanations for why I think Major League is a great movie. However, I'm going to go with this one- this is a movie that expertly balances sports and comedy, tells a memorable story, and makes me laugh consistently throughout it. Plus, when Lou Brown goes to the bullpen tied 2-2 with the Yankees, and Ricky Vaughn makes that long, slow stride while "Wild Thing" plays and the whole crowd sings along- that is one of my all-time favorite sports movie moments. I just really love this movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Major League II, Major League: Back to the Minors