Major League (1989/Paramount Blu-ray)

 

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

 

 

Many sports movies all have the same common theme, underachievers overcome the odds and prove to everyone that spirit triumphs over skill.  While Major League follows that same theme, it is much better than most.  When a new owner takes over the Cleveland Indians, she assembles a team of has-beens and misfits with one goal in mind, lose as many games as possible in order to relocate the team to Miami.  The characters of the movie carry it.

 

Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger both fresh off of their success of Platoon, are perfectly cast as the aged veteran with one final chance at baseball and his wife, and the bad boy newcomer with a "wild" pitch.  Great supporting roles from Corbin Bernsen, Wesley Snipes, Dennis Haysbert, Rene Russo, and Bob Uecker along with a mixed in romance sub plot, make the movie more than capable of appealing to non-sports fans.  It is funny, heartfelt, and entertaining while not overplaying itself. That is its charm.  It never tries to be more of a comedy, more of a romance, or more of a sports movie.  It is blended very well and works because it does not try to be more.  What we have is a fun movie experience that is definitely worth watching.

The Blu-Ray 1080p High Definition picture is not that good.  There were many very noticeable shots that were crackling with bad clarity.  The movie showed its age with this low performing transfer.  The sound in 5.1 Dolby True HD has the same problem. Many scenes were in and out in terms of sound clarity.

The extras on this disc include commentaries by Director David S. Ward and Producer Chris Chesser, My Kind of Team featurette, A Major League Look at feature which has current Indians players talking about the movie, Bob Uecker: Just a Bit Outside, An Alternate Ending, and a Tour of Cerrano's Locker.  Very fun extras that are worth watching for the fan of the movie.

 

 

-   Nate Rutkus