Rookie of the Year

Starring: Thomas Ian Nicholas, Gary Busey, Albert Hall, Amy Morton, Dan Hedaya, Bruce Altman, Eddie Bracken, Daniel Stern, Neil Flynn, Barry Bonds, John Candy (uncredited)
Directed by: Daniel Stern
Rating: PG
Genre: Sports, Comedy
1993

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: A boy (Thomas Ian Nicholas) breaks his arm and it heals wrongly- giving him the ability to throw 90+ hours per hour. His hometown Chicago Cubs sign him to an MLB contract.

Review:

Tim: Growing up, I loved Rookie if the Year. I was kind of the perfect age when it was released- 12 years old, liked baseball. This wish fulfillment movie perfectly encapsulated a lot of boys' dreams. Watching it now, for the first time in decades, this time with my 9 year-old son (my 6 year-old daughter watched a bit but wasn't all that interested) was a different experience. The movie has aged quite a bit. Gags that were hilarious to me at 12 were a bit cringeworthy at 42. The movie really asks a lot of the audience, suspension of disbelief is a must here. And yet, I still enjoyed the movie- despite these obvious flaws. My son really enjoyed it, too. So, I'm left with a bit of a quandary- I see the flaws, but I really enjoyed the film regardless. This is a case where (maybe) nostalgia wins out- I think Rookie of the Year is an exceptional kids sports movie. Despite its flaws, I'm still a huge fan.

The concept itself is brilliant for teens and preteens- a kid breaks his arm and it heals in a way that allows him to throw extremely fast. This comes to the attention of the Chicago Cubs, who are mired in mediocrity. They sign the kid, to much fanfare and skepticism. None of this is remotely plausible, but this is a comedy, a kid's movie. And, I was okay with it all. Of course, it's illogical- this is a chance for kids to live out a fantasy on the big screen. We're all Henry Rowengartner and can revel in the ludicrous story because we'd have LOVED to play for a Major League Baseball team. It's fun, it's exciting, it's entertaining. That's what carries this film forward. Along the way, Henry learns a lot about life- I didn't pick up on all those subtleties in my own youth, but I liked the overall message the film delivers. I wouldn't say there's great depth, but there's at least some- this isn't a story that exists purely on the surface. And, on top of that, we get to see a kid strike out big leaguers. Come on, that's entertainment!

The movie is helped by the cast, although as a whole, it's just slightly above average. Thomas Ian Nicholas is terrific in the role. He's a wonderful conduit for the audience to experience these events. His earnestness and energy are infectious and you find you want to root for the kid. Sure, as a parent, he was annoying and grating at times, but I didn't recognize that as a kid. He was so cool. Nicholas makes a great connection with the audience and we genuinely appreciate him. Gary Busey also does terrific work here, as the waning pitcher Chet Steadman. Busey as a person has issues, but I didn't have any problems with his performance. He captures a nice amount of world-weariness, but he also has a terrific heart. I loved the building relationship between Henry and Chet- that is the heart of this film. Busey is quite strong in the role. Amy Morton was fine as Henry's mom- she doesn't give an especially good performance, but it's fine. Bruce Altman is memorable, if a bit over-the-top. Dan Hedaya is great fun, he was always so brilliant in these slimy roles. It was fun seeing Neil Flynn in a small role. Daniel Stern (in addition to directing the film) is ridiculous. He's too extreme and buffoonish. I don't remember laughing at him as a kid, but it's interesting to see the director cast himself in this small role and then actively hurt the movie with his dumb performance. I get what Stern was trying to do, it just doesn't work as well as he needed it to. I did love seeing John Candy in this uncredited performance. It's a small role, but he makes a big impact. Every time he was on screen, I smiled to see him. He's one of the subtly stronger parts of this film. Albert Hall is memorable in his supporting performance, too. There might not be a ton of standout performances here, but the cast mostly work well.

As we get to the film's conclusion, there are some truly memorable moments. The final climactic sequence is one I vividly remember, even decades after last seeing it. Watching it as an adult, it's all beyond any realm of logic. It takes a lot of suspension of disbelief to try and go with any of it. It feels like it was written by someone without a firm grasp of baseball or MLB players. However, for a kid, it's wonderfully cinematic, suspenseful, and entertaining. My son was definitely riveted at the final sequence. It might be implausible, but it's fun to watch. I admit it was a bit hard not to scoff at times, but I tried to remember the film through my earlier eyes.

I recognize this may not be a universally beloved film and I have no defense for people who disliked it. However (and to some extent, I tried to look past my nostalgia), I do think there's a lot of good things to celebrate about this movie. There's not a ton of baseball movies geared towards kids and this is one of the more memorable ones from the 1990s. It's a comedy, so you can go with the absurdity a little more readily. I think the basic ideas were solid and there's at least a bit of depth to the film. I had fun watching this movie with my son (and a bit with my daughter- she remembered the breaking-arm part clearly). I'm a big fan of Rookie of the Year and I believe that this is a film that succeeds despite its flaws.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



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