As Major League Baseball races heat up, there’s more than one way to bring the whole family into your sports obsession.
A thoroughly winning performance by Dennis Quaid lifted “The Rookie” far above its sports-movie peers in 2002. Like Kevin Costner, Quaid has the build and the walk of a real athlete, and even more than Costner, Quaid knows how the timing of a warm smile can reassure his whole family.
Quaid inhabits the real-life tale of Jim Morris, a high school science teacher in a rural Texas district who coaches the baseball team. He tells his underachieving boys that if they start living up to their potential, he’ll try out again for the major leagues, 12 years after an injury ended his career.
Wouldn’t be much of a story if Morris had failed, but of course he doesn’t. The charm of “The Rookie” is how screenwriter Mike Rich forces Quaid to keep his family involved the entire way. Not only does Morris have to confront his father’s scorn – he hasn’t leveled with his wife about the tryouts, and so has to change a wailing baby’s diapers when it’s his turn to pitch.
(The “old man” insults hit hard for those of us over 40.)
Rich also wrote satisfying screenplays for “Miracle,” another good family movie about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey victory.
Each Tuesday, Michael Booth uncovers a movie gem for families in search of rewarding entertainment. Reach him at mbooth@denverpost.com; find the “Screen Team” blog at denverpostbloghouse.com.
“The Rookie”
Rated: G
Most appealing: Children 5 or older
