Rating of
2.5/4
This one is a balk compared to the first two films
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/01/08
"Gus Cantrell" (Scott Backula) is a Triple A pitcher who is slowly losing his ability to throw a good pitch. He is approached by Minnesota Twins owner "Roger Dorn" (Corbin Bernson), and is offered a job to coach the Twins' Minor League team, the "Buzz."
The "Buzz" are very simular to the Twins in the first movie of the series -- they are a bunch of undiciplined players who are dead last in the standings.
To compound "Cantrell's" problems, the Twins are managed by an old rival, "Leonard Huff" (Ted McGinley), a guy with an ego bigger than Twins Stadium. "Huff" makes it very clear that he thinks "Cantrell" and the "Buzz" are the biggest joke in the history of the game.
The rivalry of the two comes to a head when "Cantrell" makes an offer to "Huff" that he can't refuse.
The first thing you will notice is that this film relies very little on the first two movies. It does bring back some of the original cast to offer a link to the other movies though. Fortunately, the newest members of the Major League franchise (to use a Major League Baseball term) are not carbon copies of the ones we see in the previous films in the series.
One thing that takes a backseat in this movie is the love story between "Cantrell" and his girlfriend, "Maggie" (Jensen Daggett). It is obvious though that the two were made for each other, but the movie doesn't even touch upon the romance side of their relationship.
"Mr. Baseball" Bob Uecker is one of the highlights of this film. You will get a louder chuckle out of you when he's in the announce booth than any of the other jokes in the film.
The movie also lacks in the soundtrack, as well as scenes on the field (during practice and in game). The only visuals that stand out are the field level pitches by "'Downtown' Anderson" (Walt Goggins).
None of the jokes really stand out. However, it is kind of fun watching "Huff" lose it when "Cantrell" begins to seriously get under his skin.
This movie is basically a fair retelling of the first film that basically fails at the attempt of recreating the magic of the first film.
I recommend that this may be a good, not great, second choice rental.
