Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Drama > Comedy > Baseball > The Rookie (Blu-ray)

The Rookie (Blu-ray)

 

Picture: B+     Sound: B     Extras: C     Film: C+

 

 

The “baseball dream cycle” that began with Field Of Dreams was thin to begin with and John Lee Hancock’s The Rookie (2002) was a valiant effort by Disney to have their answer to the Kevin Costner hit down to the casting of Dennis Quaid, who is as “all-American” as Costner could get.  As a high school coach who promises to try for Major League Baseball if his team can win a championship, he becomes the tile character despite his age.

 

Though somewhat melodramatic and almost cheeky, the result is a mixed film with some likability, but ultimately does not add up despite its ambitions.  Hancock went on to replace Ron Howard on the problematic retread of The Alamo (2004) while writer Mike Rich had also written Finding Forrester (2000), only to turn around and write the catastrophic Radio (2003).  That should give you an idea of how uneven this is.  Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez, Brian Cox and the terrific Beth Grant also star.

 

The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is good, but not without flaws and limits, barley making its letter grade.  There are some Video Black issues and some shots that are not consistent with the better ones more often than expected.  Director of Photography John Schwartzman, A.S.C., delivers a good looking film once again.  The PCM 24/48 5.1 mix is better than the Dolby Digital 5.1 options here, but this never had a great soundmaster and you should not expect much from it.  Extras include two featurettes, eight deleted scenes with director intros and a feature length audio commentary by Quaid and Hancock.

 

Fans will be happy, while others interested who have not seen it will want to give it a look in this format.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com