For some reason, I get a kick out of movies like "Rookie of the Year." I guess the fact that so many young boys, myself included, fantasize about playing professional sports contributes to the popularity of this genre. I think Daniel Stern did a good job directing this movie because he doesn't ever let it become too kiddy and childish. Sure there are a lot of funny moments, but they can be funny to adults as well as children. The setting of this movie cannot be beat: Wrigley Field. It doesn't get any better than that. "Rookie of the Year" is a fun movie to watch with the family.
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g-bodyl19 October 2010Rookie of the Year is a pretty good sports movie even though I have seen better. I thought that Daniel Stern as the pitching coach was hilarious but in reality a guy like him would have been fired before the first pitch of the season-at least the late, great Steinbrenner would. It was also nice to see how a young teenager would adapt to the adult world of baseball.
This is about a 12-year-old who can suddenly throw a hundred miles an hour after he recovered from a broken arm. Once again, that's impossible in real life. Anyway, he is a midseason addition to the Cubs and he makes them more than the mediocre team that they were.
Overall, this is a pretty solid sports movie. There was great acting by the kids. But the ending is all to predictable. I rate this film 7/10. -
LuckyFour-LeafClover23 May 2021It seems kind of cheesy as a grown up but it was very fun for me as a kid watching this. In a way re-watching it all these years later reminds me of when sports were fun and not all heavily analytical based. Heck even in almost 30 years baseball has become way more corporate.
The story goes Henry devoted Chicago Cubs fan despite how lousy the team is and how much slack he gets for it still loves his Cubs. He's not the best little league ball player but one day a freak accident gives him the ability to throw a baseball at 100mph. The struggling Cubs catch wind if this throwing a home run back and give him a deal to play.
I still remember seeing this movie with my aunt and uncle in the theaters. I think ironically I am now around their age when I went to see it with them. The whole nostalgia of it increases the ratings for me. -
brian-crouch-120 November 2004This movie asks the question: "What if pro baseball was fun again, like in little league, and not so taken so seriously?" The device of Henry's miraculous arm allows the story to inject a kid's eye view into a somewhat cynical world. Juxtaposing the sleazy Dan Hedaya's attempted $25 million trade of Henry to the Yankees with the Henry and his buddies taking a day trip on a boat, as well as Henry's adolescent antics on the field, director Daniel Stern is trying to get us to look at baseball, and maybe sports, maybe life, like we did when we were ten.
I think Roger Ebert, although I agree with his review, took pretty poor notes while reviewing this film. From his article: "When the cast comes off, his dad takes him to Wrigley Field, and he catches a home run ball while he's out in the bleachers, and then he throws it back - all the way to the catcher behind the plate." Actually, he went with his friends, he doesn't even know his dad. And he didn't catch it, his friends pick it up from nearby, and hand it to him because they're scared to throw it on TV and embarrass themselves. Doesn't he have a fact-checker to proof his reviews?
Second, he writes: "Henry becomes an overnight celebrity, and is signed to the Cubs by the team's genial owner." This ignores the desperation of Dan Hedaya, the would-be owner of the team, who sees the publicity and marketing windfall in having a kid on the team. The sell-out crowd is an important story element, as it reinforces the idea that we are all hungry for baseball to be fun again.
There's are lots of laughs to be had in this film, although Stern seems to want to indulge in over-the-top hysterics from time to time, such as with the character he was playing. Also, the bilious "Jack" who gets Henry's mom to sign a contract without telling her it's a trade to NY, is downright spastic in his final scene. Stern shows a lot of promise as a comedy director if he could tone it down just a touch with the tangential characters. Understatement can be funny, as Busey shows with a few choice glares at the right moments. I loved Stern's allusion to the Wizard of Oz, likening the Emerald City gates to the Wrigley stadium gates, when Henry first arrives to play.
The Cubs haven't won a Series since 1909. "And a little child shall lead them..." Every kid should see this movie. -
quisha-0119515 November 2019Nice family movie with pretty good actors overall a good movie to watch with the kids
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bkoganbing13 February 2019Young Thomas Ian Nicholas gets a once in a lifetime chance to play for the Chicago Cubs and lead them to a pennant in 1993 the year Rookie Of The Year came out. At the time the Cubs had not won a pennant since 1945 and no World Series victory since 1908.
It happens quite by accident because the young man wasn't the most talented of players. An accident where he broke his arm and some ribs had him in a most uncomfortable cast. But it tightened the tendons in his pitching arm. So when at a game at Wrigley Field where Nicholas is sitting in the bleachers and the bleacher bums who occupy it tell him to throw the opposing ball back, Nicholas unlooses a throw that Carl Furillo would have envied, a perfect strike on the fly to home plate.
With nothing else to lose the Cubs sign the 12 year old up. The wartime Cincinnati Reds signed Joe Nuxhall at 15 to their roster. In real life that record still has to be broken.
Tommy John surgery never gave anyone in real life speed like young Nicholas has.
Young Nicholas is surrounded with a good cast of adults such as Amy Morton as his mom, Gary Busey as a washed up pitcher hoping for a comeback, Eddie Bracken as the Cubs eccentric owner and John Candy who is unbilled and was a famous Cubs fan as their play by play announcer.
No story would be complete without villains and two real good ones are here. Dan Hedaya as the Cubs GM and Bruce Altman who specializes in smarmy villains is at his smarmiest as a talent agent. Both are looking to exploit young Nicholas to the max without considering him.
The finale includes a playoff with the Mets and young Nicholas uses some sandlot savvy in the crucial moments.
In 2016 the Cubs finally did it, but this film Rookie Of The Year is still a delightful baseball fantasy. -
disdressed1213 July 2010this is a movie the whole family can enjoy.it's fun and there's nothing offensive about it.sure it is a bit over the top on occasion,and there is one running joke that is stretched a bit too thin.you'll know which one i mean about halfway through the film or earlier.but other than that,it's enjoyable,and you can allow your inner child to live on courtesy of the fantasy elements.also,it helps that the lead,Thomas Ian Nicholas(13 years old at the time)is engaging and charismatic.this movie won't change your life,but it should provide some laughs and keep you entertained for one hundred minutes or so.for me,Rookie of the Year is a 7/10
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Agent1024 June 2002See Thomas Ian Nicholas in a film before forever becoming known as a pervert in American Pie. As a kids movie, this movie hits a homerun. Consider many of the aspects: a goofy central character, a bad to good storyline, and supporting members who seem rather believable in their traits and actions (except for Daniel Stern of course).
Sure, younger kids will get a hoot out of this film, but older folks might as well keep away. -
Hitchcoc7 January 2017If you are unwilling to accept the basic premise of the film, that a child who has surgery on a broken arm is suddenly able to throw a pitch over 100 miles per hour, you aren't going to like this movie. I've been a baseball fan for 60 years and I know when a baseball movie is going to present an accurate portrayal of the game. If you read anything about this film and you are a purist, there are probably another ten movie to pick from this day. That said, this is a delightful film with a joyfulness that brings back memories of what it was like to be a mediocre baseball player, still hoping to be a major leaguer someday. The boy in this film is klutzy, so his entrance into a major league game is filled with fear and worry. There are good guys and bad guys, especially the father candidate. At some point, we know that reality will set in and, like "Damn Yankees," someone is going to have to face a real situation. This is just charming and fun. Enjoy it. It was never meant to be a documentary.
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shamimriaz30 January 2012Really loved the movie when i watched it, I was 14 then. Maybe, 2 or 3 times then and I liked both the fun side and the inspirational side of the movie. That was the first time I came to know about baseball through this movie.
Its all about a boy Henry who accidentally can ball fast after having and accident! And, no wonder he becomes famous. The movie gets along with the incidents happening with Henry.
Not so fast in pace, but I am sure, it wont bore you at all. You will love the events in the movie. And Thomas Ian Nicholas(Henry) really did good job in acting also did the director Daniel Stern. I am being a nostalgic about this movie. After so many years of watching the movie I still remember most of the story. No doubt its a kids movie, still adults can give a try with their kids! -
ccthemovieman-116 November 2006I love sports movies and especially ones with nice characters, especially nice kids, ones that set good examples for others. So, call me old-fashioned or whatever else you want, but this film was stupid. Maybe if you're kid, you wouldn't think so, but adults - stay away.
As for kids, I found way too many "OMGs" in this film, both by the mother and the 12-year- old kid (played by Thomas Ian Nicholas). This was actor Daniel Stern's directorial debut and he promised publicly to make "safe family films." That's great, but this isn't a great start. "Oh my gosh," said by the kid would have but a better and smarter example to set to other kids than the other blasphemes. We also see early '90s Hollywood "fad" of having a mother literally punch out her boyfriend. That's "safe family fare?" I am tired of Hollywood's PC-feminist baloney of showing women acting tough like Mike Tyson. It just ain't so.
The one good part in this film was the role played by Gary Busey. At least he played someone who was a good role model. -
jhaggardjr4 December 2000"Rookie of the Year" is one of my favorite baseball movies. One of the things I liked the most about this movie is that it's set in Chicago, my hometown. Most of the action in the film takes place at Wrigley Field, home of the long suffering Chicago Cubs. It's about a clumsy 12-year-old boy named Henry Rowengartner, who loves to play baseball. However, the kid can't do anything right on the field. One day, trying to impress a girl, he tries to catch a fly ball. But ends up slipping on a baseball lying on the ground and in the process breaks his right arm. After four months of recouperation, the cast comes off. Afterwards Henry's mother gives him and his two best friends tickets to the latest Cubs game. The three boys are sitting in the bleachers when a home run is hit. The ball lands close to where they're sitting and one of Henry's friends recovers the ball. The fans sitting nearby yell at the kid to throw it back on to the field. The kid doesn't want to do it and gives the ball to Henry's other friend who ends up giving the ball to Henry. He agrees to do it. Then an amazing thing happens. Henry not only throws the ball back on to the field, he throws the ball all the way to home plate! The crowd is in stunned silence after seeing this. Who threw that ball? is the question on everyone's mind. When the owners find out it's Henry, they ask him if he would like to pitch for the Cubs. Henry goes bonkers and agrees to pitch. After throwing some practice pitches, the owners and managers discover that he has a 100 m.p.h. fastball. They think this could be the perscription the Cubs need since they're already going through another disasterous season (which is all too familiar in real life). Henry becomes the star rookie of the team as the closer. And the Cubs start winning and begin to turn their season around. "Rookie of the Year" has alot of big laughs and a terrific cast. There are four memorable performances in this film. Thomas Ian Nicholas is wonderful as Henry. This actor has grown up since this film (he was most recently seen in the hit film "American Pie"), but he's in a role to remember; Gary Busey is also very good as the aging star pitcher known as 'The Rocket' who helps out Henry in certain spots; Albert Hall as the Cubs manager who repeatedly keeps mispronouncing Henry's last name in different formats; and Amy Morton, a Chicago stage actress, as Henry's mother Mary. Some of the most effective moments in the film are with the boy and his mom. Also there are hilarious smaller performances by Eddie Bracken as the Cubs owner; John Candy as the Cubs broadcast announcer; and Daniel Stern (who also directed) in the film's goofiest role as the dim-witted pitching coach. "Rookie of the Year" has the usual predictable sports ending, but since this film is so much fun, who cares. There is one obvious continuity error in the film. When they fly to L.A. to play the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, you can tell they're really playing at Comiskey Park, home of Chicago's other baseball team, the White Sox. You can tell just by that, that this film was shot entirely in Chicago. "Rookie of the Year" is a baseball winner in my book.
***1/2 (out of four) -
StevePulaski26 September 2014Rookie of the Year is just about as genial as a baseball movie of the nineties can be before it becomes a tad too grating for my personal tastes. The film dances on a line between being too concerned with ridiculous humor and too fixated on creating a sentimental environment that, between those two things, has difficultly really making one enjoy the fun of the baseball game at hand.
The film stars Thomas Ian Nicholas as the ambitious youngster Henry Rowengartner, a twelve-year-old Little League player with dreams of playing in the major leagues for his favorite team, the Chicago Cubs. His dream is often mocked by his friends and classmates, as Henry isn't a very good player and has quite a clumsy aura about him. In an attempt to catch a ball thrown by one of the school's bullies, Henry slips on another ball lying on the ground and breaks his arm, having to wrap it in a thick and relatively debilitating cast. When the arm finally heals, the doctor removes the cast to reveal that Henry's tendons have healed very tightly, with Henry able to cock his arm back and fire a ball with incomparable force.
His talents are shown throwing a foul ball back to home plate from the stands at a Chicago Cubs game, prompting the Cubs to contract the youngest player in MLB history as the team's starting pitcher. Henry couldn't be happier, but earns some justified opposition and hesitance from the team's aging pitcher Chet "Rocket" Steadman (Busey), one of Henry's idols. Despite his good-nature and kind spirits, Henry's presence has the ability to ruffle feathers and occasionally upset his teammates, and also makes him the target for his mother's greedy boyfriend Jack (Bruce Altman), who looks to take advantage of him and his abilities.
Rookie of the Year inevitably suffers comparison to Little Big League, another nineties baseball film that was more-or-less eclipsed by the success and familiarity of this film just a year later. While Little Big League did a fine job at illustrating what could potentially happen if an eleven-year-old was left to his own wits to manage a Major League Baseball team he inherited, Rookie of the Year deals with an equally unlikely story in a less interesting manner. Despite all efforts by director Daniel Stern (famous for his role as one of the burglars in both Home Alone films among many other comedies) and writer Sam Harper, Rookie of the Year only manages to be a fair and humbly likable picture, light on its humor elements with more emphasis placed on redundant, and occasionally crude, gags.
The nineties was already a time where baseball films were a dime a dozen, with films being made for children and adults alike. I'm holding Rookie of the Year to the works of the era, like A League of Their Own, Little Big League, and, everybody's favorite, The Sandlot. The film's funniest scenes come from the uncredited John Candy, who plays the Cubs announcer always eager to bet against them. With all of this in mind, Rookie of the Year is harmless and cheery, like its protagonist, always bearing a good heart and a clear mind, but admittedly, pretty forgettable.
Starring: Thomas Ian Nicholas, Gary Busey, Dan Hedaya, Bruce Altman, Daniel Stern, and John Candy. Directed by: Daniel Stern. -
Jens Christian Skov27 December 2000Nice movie with a quite good plot, but the acting ain't worth mentioning. It is quite easy to see that the film has been filmed in a very short time, cause the directing of the cast is terrible. A little more time to direct the cast would have been nice, because the cast has a lot more to offer than they show in this movie.
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MovieAddict201611 December 2002I was never much into sports. I never fantasized about becoming a huge sports star. However, I realize many adults did dream of such things when they were children, and that is why "Rookie of the Year" may surprise some adults.
The plot is childish, of course, and the acting -- apart from Daniel Stern and an unbilled cameo from John Candy -- is not Oscar-worthy. Still, it's worth a few bucks, and may transport adults back to their memories and make them fantasize more than children.
I don't like this film a whole lot, but it's just one of those films that when you see it on TV, you just...watch it! Hard to explain. It's like some cosmic force draws you to it. I think it could be the worst film in the world and I'd still have to watch it every time it's on.
I give "Rookie of the Year" 3/5 stars. Not great, and not even that good, but there's just something about it... -
The actual baseball footage in the film is pretty rough. But an enjoyable film to watch with kids. Daniel Stern seems to try a little too hard with his comedic elements, and some of the drama with the mom and her boyfriend seems forced.
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JakeRfilmfreak25 September 2023There were quite a few sports related kids' comedies that came out in the early to mid 1990's. Some were excellent, some were okay, and some were questionable, Rookie of the Year is one of the better ones in my opinion.
The films about a kid who becomes the pitcher of the Chicago Cubs after breaking his arm.
Daniel Stern has a great comedic background, and did a fantastic job directing this movie. The story although silly, doesn't take itself too seriously. The cast is wonderful, the jokes are funny, and it's a movie that the whole family can enjoy. If you haven't seen this before, I'd recommend giving it a watch. -
owensbyandrew14 January 2024In the 1965 YA book by Robert C. Lee, a 12 year old Michael Glenn has a bit of a Marty/Doc Brown dynamic with a local brilliant scientist, Prof. Von Heiner. When Mike stops by the profs lab he accidentally exposes his arm to an experiment. Mike finds that his arm has is now extremely strong. After playing in his little league game he gets noticed and quickly gets to tryout for a minor league team and ends up as a major league pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. He has great success but the effects eventually wear off- at a crucial point in a big game. Sound familiar? The screenwriter of the movie, Sam Harper, isn't claiming he wrote an adaptation of the book. While there are a lot of things different, the main storyline is the same. That being said, I still enjoy watching the movie and reading the book.
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Not people who ONCE were children in the 90s, but actual children living in the actual 90s. I was one of those kids, & I used to LOVE this movie; unfortunately, that love stayed back with that decade. This has the worst tendencies of a sports film: emotionally over-the-top, cheap plot mechanics, & an obnoxiously predictable story. Still, Candy is great, the humor has more than a few good moments, & Busey proves that he can be normal.
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Venturin17 March 1999I really enjoy the film Rookie of the Year. I even bought the tape, and I pop it in once a month or so when I need a pick-me-up. It's funny and warm and rewarding as well. I really like the character of Mary, the mother of the boy with the 'rocket fire' arm. A single mother, she worries that her son has no one to look up to, but we learn things about her that gives the finale an extra shot of warmth. Daniel Stern did a very nice job of directing, and he got good performances all around. Gary Busey is great, and the way he and the other ball players come around to liking the kid is fun. I also like the pacing of the movie, there's always a 'moment' just around the corner. The film is full of fun moments, and when I start the tape I have to watch through to the end. Have kids? Have they seen this film? Give it a try, good clean fun family entertainment.
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lifeafterny23 June 2023First Mom hooks up with a clear dirtbag giving all kinds of red flags, and child-exploitation vibes. It happens, fine.
Then when her son gets his lottery ticket punched, mom ends up having a torrid affair with Henry's teammate. It probably hurt his standing with his ballclub and peers. Also could have been a huge distraction to the Cubs during their playoff run.
Then when Stedman hurts HIS arm, instead of leaving the game, he now has to impress his secret girlfriend. He stays in, essentially ending his entire career.
THEN, when Henry (SPOILER ALERT) loses his juice in the arm, she gives him the advice to throw a slow-pitch softball type throw to a gigantic homerun machine.
Luckily, the Cubs won, but 9 out of 10 times, that dude launches the floater into restricted airspace.
Bad Mom. -
medrjel17 February 2002This is typical Disney shlock that is about a kid reaching his dreams. It's nice for the kids. Nothing special.
A kid breaks his arm and when it heals he end up being able to throw very fast. What kid doesn't dream of getting some special ability. That's why it's good for kids. Adults, on the other hand, may fine movie contrived and inane. Not the quality of many of the older Disney movies.
SPOILER!!! SPOILER!!!!
One huge criticism. The boy was born out of wedlock, and it is openly discussed. I know it happens a lot in real life, but it just seemed to bring the movie down. -
daniel-schlachta18 June 2016... or Gary Busey or the Cubs or twelve year old kids this thing is probably not for you. Otherwise I found some really good laughs in it. The story was appealingly filmed and professionally cut and so on. My point is that most Europeans don't have a clue about the game and it is quite important for the story. (For how long will this go on? - Well it's the third inning and they play at least eight. - God help me!) It is great to see how the boy is brought up by his mother to be nice to people and show them respect and how the really manly men repay the favor. All in all I give it a ten because it achieves what it aims for. Do watch it. If you can tell a sinker from a curve ball that is.
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byson518624 May 2016I just finished watching this movie on T.V. This movie has some good laughs in it, and it will probably remind people my age of their childhood days. This movie takes me back to the early '90s. A time so many people wish they could go back to. That being said, I wouldn't say this movie is timeless. It feels like it's more from it's time, unlike some movies which stand the test of time being watched by even younger generations, and having things in the movie that don't look so old.
Like one example of a movie that's stood the test of time, and a character in that movie is the director of this movie and plays a character in this movie is Home Alone. The burglar Marv played by Daniel Stern is the director and plays a wacky baseball player in this movie that will keep you laughing. While watching Home Alone, it's hard to believe that movie is a quarter of a century old, and it's a movie frequently on T.V. that many people like to watch during the Holiday Season. Even the kids today are familiar with that movie. I listened to the DVD commentary where the director said they intended to make a movie showing somethings that never change to have it work in coming years. It's different for Rookie Of The Year, but it will remind people more of the simplicity of the early '90s.
This movie has a common theme from many kids movie of the same era. A comical/cheesy sports movie for kids and families. A movie that deals with a losing team. That losing team somehow has a miracle where they become a winning team, and we wonder if they can become champions. The miracle in this movie is a 12-year old kid Henry Rowengartner who breaks his arm, and it heals in a certain way, where he can throw very fast pitches and starts to play for the losing Chicago Cubs. We see the comedy of a kid playing baseball in a Major League team. I remember when this movie came out, and I heard kids at my summer sports camp reciting the line, "Pitcher's Got A Big Butt."
This movie again has a them we see in other kids movies. Some of it might remind you of a movie that came out a year later, Angels In The Outfield. I also would see years later a sports movie called Like Mike involving a kid playing on an NBA team. Kids movies of a losing team becoming a winning team don't seem so big anymore. However, I did see a movie last year called Underdog Kids about a losing Karate Team. In some ways, I prefer that movie more than these other ones, because I felt like it left a better message.
I've also read a book with a plot like that called The Toilet Paper Tigers by Gordon Korman. It is an exciting book about a boys little league team in a rural part of Texas with a coach who doesn't know how to play baseball. His 12-year old granddaughter Kristy Pendergast helps out only to annoy the boys, but does it in a way of putting their strengths to good use. It's a hilarious book, the funniest book i've read in my entire life and very exciting. I wonder if that book would make a better movie, because it makes a better story?
To end, Rookie Of The Year is a cute funny movie that shows lots of comedy of a kid playing baseball. It also shows the relationship between a boy and his mom, and a kid hanging out with friends back then. The movie ends at a good point to end, it probably will not be your favorite movie, or a movie you'd care to own. You most likely would not care for a sequel either. We don't really care about what happens next. The characters from that movie only work for this movie. But, if you want to remember your childhood days, I suggest you watch this as it will get you laughing and remind you how much simpler life was back when this movie came out and we were kids. -
richard-178717 October 2013I don't know what sort of movie 12 year old boys watch today. Certainly not the sort I liked 50 years ago when I was 12. Maybe this sort of movie would appeal to them. I can't say.
It didn't do anything for me, but then, as I say, I'm not 12 years old.
Instead, it struck me as a boy's version of The Natural, which I didn't get a lot out of either. A guy - or, in this case, a boy - has a stroke of good luck and acquires a magic power that makes him a great baseball player. It's luck, and not the result of hard work. (For that, see The Stratton Story, which is one of my favorite baseball movies.) He has a glorious career until the magic wears out. That didn't do much for me in The Natural, and it doesn't do much for me here. Played as comedy it can work - see "It Happens Every Spring" - but not, for me, as drama, because there's no drama involved.
I don't know if boys still dream about baseball anymore. Maybe those who do, if they still exist, might enjoy this movie. If so, let them so do.
But I won't be watching it again myself, at 62.