The Rookie (2002)
Review by HTQ4
Film:
DVD:

Written by Mike Rich
Directed by John Lee Hancock
Starring Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez, Beth Grant, Brian Cox

Features:

• Running audio commentary by director John Lee Hancock and Quaid
  
• The Inspirational Story of Jim Morris - Meet the Real "Rookie"
  
• Spring Training: Tips from the Pros
  
• Deleted Scenes introduced by Hancock
  

Jim Morris (Quaid) lost what he thought was his only chance at pitching for a Major League ball team. He has taken up a job teaching science and coaching a fledgling baseball team at the high school in his hometown, Big Lake, Texas. His team has had a number of losing seasons and, in trying to motivate them to win more games, they make a deal with him. They will start winning more games if he will tryout for a professional baseball team. They live up to their end of the bargain, and he ends up pitching his first Major League baseball game at the tender age of thirty-five.

This movie works for one simple reason: it's based on a true story. The script is sentimental, but not to the point of nausea. Quaid is simply the perfect choice to play Morris. His "all-American" image and his Texas roots make him essentially the only choice. The rest of the supporting cast is just as strong. The father/son relationship that Brian Cox and Quaid establish is also rock solid. It's really well paced; it doesn't seem to get bogged down in creating its own sentimentality.

The DVD is simply elegant. The best special feature is the featurette dealing with the real Jim Morris. It contains footage from Morris' first Major League appearance at the Ball Park in Arlington as well as interviews with the people who were actually involved with him getting there. It's really refreshing to hear the story told from the horse's mouth. Helmer Hancock introduces each of the deleted scenes, giving you the reason why each of them were cut. It's nice to have them introduced rather than with commentary. At least you get to watch the scene after hearing the reason they chose to cut it. "Spring Training" is targeted more to the kids who will watch this movie and get inspired to play baseball. It's the baseball coordinator giving tips on how to improve your baseball game.

While the commentary track is very well done, you really shouldn't hope to hear a lot from Quaid. It's not that Hancock dominates the track, it's just that Quaid doesn't seem to be a talkative person. When he does choose to talk, it's poignant and witty--there's just not enough of it. The info that Hancock provides is golden; giving you a nice mix of humorous, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and interesting facts about Morris' story as well.

The movie is great as an inspirational story and the DVD isn't bad either; it provides just enough extra oomph for me to tell you to buy the thing.