Not since a dwarf strode to the plate to bat for the White Sox in a promotional gimmick have Chicago fans witnessed a pint-sized baseballer like the one in this fantastic story where the Cubs sign a 12-year-old to pitch them to the pennant.
With this scrappy comedy, 20th Century Fox clearly has a ringer in its summer lineup, a slugger posing as a sleeper. When the dust has cleared on the boxoffice season, score a big H, or hit, for ''Rookie of the Year.''
Twelve-year-old Henry Rowengartner Thomas Ian Nicholas) is just your average, skinny Chicago kid with a single mom (Amy Morton), a couple of good buddies (Robert Gorman, Patrick LaBrecque) and a lot of the typical peer pressures that the modern 12-year old faces.
Athletically, in fact, Henry is a bit of a geek, until he literally stumbles into superstardom. He trips over a baseball, smashes up his shoulder and when it heals, he's got a tightly wound superarm. No longer a benchwarmer, Henry can now clock them over the plate at 100 mph.
The hapless Cubs, mired as usual in late-season doldrums, sign him up as a promo gimmick, to boost attendance. After a wobbly start, Henry finds his rhythm, chiefly through some solid mentoring by the team's chief ace (Gary Busey). Suddenly, the Cubbies are in the pennant race and Henry is the toast of the town. Move over, Michael Jordan.
Lacing the exhilaration of childhood fantasies within a modern-day family story, screenwriter Sam Harper has served up a wonderfully upbeat entertainment. The story bounces along with some terrific ''Major League''-ish comedy with director Daniel Stern keeping ''Rookie'' light and fleet on the story paths. Stern is also a highlight wearing his player's cap, goosing things up with his hilarious, slapstick antics as Henry's hapless pitching coach.
As the kid who stumbles into stardom, Nicholas is a natural, conveying the dreamy gangliness of an everyday boy who comes to stand tall not only on the mound but in real life. Morton as the young fireballer's supportive mom is, perhaps, the cast's strongest player. Her strong and warm performance brings uncommon depth to this type of entertainment. Similarly, Busey delivers as the crusty, shoulder-hurting hurler. Set up a round of tap beers at Harry Caray's for John Candy's uncredited trip to the cinematic plate as the Cubs' overwrought announcer.
Tech credits are big league, especially Bill Conti's rousing, ballpark-flavored score and Jay Hurley's apt and funny costumes.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
20th Century Fox
A Robert Harper Production
A Daniel Stern Film
Producer Robert Harper
Director Daniel Stern
Screenwriter Sam Harper
Executive producers Jack Brodsky, Irby Smith
Director of photography Jack N. Green
Production designer Steven Jordan
Editors Donn Cambern, Raja Gosnell
Music Bill Conti
Costume designer Jay Hurley
Casting Linda Lowy
Sound mixer Scott Smith
Color/Stereo
Henry Rowengartner Thomas Ian Nicholas
Chet Stedman Gary Busey
Martinella Albert Hall
Mary Rowengartner Amy Morton
Larry (Fish) Fisher Dan Hedaya
Jack Bradfield Bruce Altman
Bob Carson Eddie Bracken
Cleark Robert Gorman
George Patrick LaBrecque
Brickma Daniel Stern
Running time -- 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
With this scrappy comedy, 20th Century Fox clearly has a ringer in its summer lineup, a slugger posing as a sleeper. When the dust has cleared on the boxoffice season, score a big H, or hit, for ''Rookie of the Year.''
Twelve-year-old Henry Rowengartner Thomas Ian Nicholas) is just your average, skinny Chicago kid with a single mom (Amy Morton), a couple of good buddies (Robert Gorman, Patrick LaBrecque) and a lot of the typical peer pressures that the modern 12-year old faces.
Athletically, in fact, Henry is a bit of a geek, until he literally stumbles into superstardom. He trips over a baseball, smashes up his shoulder and when it heals, he's got a tightly wound superarm. No longer a benchwarmer, Henry can now clock them over the plate at 100 mph.
The hapless Cubs, mired as usual in late-season doldrums, sign him up as a promo gimmick, to boost attendance. After a wobbly start, Henry finds his rhythm, chiefly through some solid mentoring by the team's chief ace (Gary Busey). Suddenly, the Cubbies are in the pennant race and Henry is the toast of the town. Move over, Michael Jordan.
Lacing the exhilaration of childhood fantasies within a modern-day family story, screenwriter Sam Harper has served up a wonderfully upbeat entertainment. The story bounces along with some terrific ''Major League''-ish comedy with director Daniel Stern keeping ''Rookie'' light and fleet on the story paths. Stern is also a highlight wearing his player's cap, goosing things up with his hilarious, slapstick antics as Henry's hapless pitching coach.
As the kid who stumbles into stardom, Nicholas is a natural, conveying the dreamy gangliness of an everyday boy who comes to stand tall not only on the mound but in real life. Morton as the young fireballer's supportive mom is, perhaps, the cast's strongest player. Her strong and warm performance brings uncommon depth to this type of entertainment. Similarly, Busey delivers as the crusty, shoulder-hurting hurler. Set up a round of tap beers at Harry Caray's for John Candy's uncredited trip to the cinematic plate as the Cubs' overwrought announcer.
Tech credits are big league, especially Bill Conti's rousing, ballpark-flavored score and Jay Hurley's apt and funny costumes.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
20th Century Fox
A Robert Harper Production
A Daniel Stern Film
Producer Robert Harper
Director Daniel Stern
Screenwriter Sam Harper
Executive producers Jack Brodsky, Irby Smith
Director of photography Jack N. Green
Production designer Steven Jordan
Editors Donn Cambern, Raja Gosnell
Music Bill Conti
Costume designer Jay Hurley
Casting Linda Lowy
Sound mixer Scott Smith
Color/Stereo
Henry Rowengartner Thomas Ian Nicholas
Chet Stedman Gary Busey
Martinella Albert Hall
Mary Rowengartner Amy Morton
Larry (Fish) Fisher Dan Hedaya
Jack Bradfield Bruce Altman
Bob Carson Eddie Bracken
Cleark Robert Gorman
George Patrick LaBrecque
Brickma Daniel Stern
Running time -- 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 6/28/1993
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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