Plot: What’s it about?
Jack Elliot (Tom Selleck) is one the greats of baseball, well, at least he was. The aging first-baseman is starting to lose his skills, and a young rookie that plays the same position is belting 500 foot home runs in practice. Instead of playing Elliot behind the rookie, the Yankee management decides to trade him. A team gladly accepts, but not the team Jack hopes for, or would even settle for. Before he knows it, Elliot is a Chunichi Dragon in Nagoya, Japan. Not exactly what Jack had in mind for his golden years in the game. At first, Jack resists this culture shock, poking fun at the rituals and seriousness of the game in his new home. He meets his new skipper, Uchiyama, who is an old-school, hard-nosed coach who holds several records in the Japanese league. He likes Jack’s skills and leadership, but not his cocky attitude and mocking tone. A fellow American team-mate (major League’s Dennis Haysbert) tries to help Elliot ease into the new style, but Elliot pretty much resists still. Jack meets a woman, and quickly sets his sights on her, but his translator, who switches his words frequently, says “difficulty surrounds her.” Will Jack and Uchiyama ever get along? Can baseball be both fun and honorable? Will Jack learn baseball about a team effort? Mr. Baseball knows…
Mr. Baseball is basically a Tom Selleck vehicle, with comedy based upon the clashes that occur when a brash, arrogant selfish sports star has to fit into a rigid, team-based, dead-serious team coached by a old-school, unforgiving skipper. Neither wants to give in at all, which makes them equally unlikeable, but both are endearing, with their little ways of doing things. The movie may seem cheesy, and at times it is, but overall, it’s a highly entertaining movie, and one that does not show up often. Elliot learns the hard way that his loud and obnoxious mannerisms don’t work with new employers, and his employers soon learn that maybe there is room for change, which kinda gives the movie a “feel-good” thingie, you know, like a moral! The cover calls Mr. Baseball “an inspirational baseball movie”, and I will buy that. It focuses on baseball, but a lot of the film also deals with Jack’s different relationships, with his coach, his love interest, himself, and his team-mates.
For a lesser-known movie, Mr. Baseball has a very nice cast, headed of course by Tom Selleck, but also lined with a great supporting cast. Uchiyama is played by Ken Takatura, in what I feel is his best American role yet. He is just enough hard-headed and just enough understanding to make Uchiyama come to life. Dennis Haysbert (Cerrano from Major League, which Matt loves) plays another American on the Dragons, but he accepts his place better than Jack does. Haysbert is right on, as he should be, the guy could make a living just playing baseball players. I did want to hear that great line though, “Fuck you Jobu, I do it myself!” But, he still did a great job. Jack’s love interest, Hiroko, is played by Japanese actress Aya Takanashi, who I have not seen much of, but she plays Hiroko with a fantastic blend of air-head and businesswoman. And Selleck takes the main role, playing it with a “big fish in a little pond” attitude, which he seems to play very well. He makes the movie entertaining, and is better than I ever thought he could be.
Everyone I know dismisses this movie, usually because it stars Tom Selleck, but others because it’s a baseball movie starring Tom Selleck. I had the same thoughts, but I tried it, and I am very happy that I did. The movie is funny, quirky, and very entertaining, worthy of not just a rent, but a purchase. It has it’s little romance, it has it’s big game moment, it has funny dialouge. What more can you want from a low price tier movie? Don’t wait any longer, just strap your cleats on, and join Mr. Baseball on the field, you’ll have a good laugh, I promise.
Video: How does it look?
This was my first Goodtimes DVD, and to tell the truth I was hesitant to say the least. I own some of thier VHS titles, and the audio/video is iffy, and down-right terrible on some. But I am glad I took the chance, because this one is great, with a widescreen transfer that looks very nice. The colors are dead on, with very little grain, discolorment, or artifacts. Not perfect by any means, but a royal treatment for this title.
Audio: How does it sound?
Same deal, I was worried for no good reason. The audio is crisp and clear all the way from opening credits to ending ones, with every crack of the bat feeling like you’re in the stadium. Dolby Surround is used, and although not the top of the line, a very good audio mix for a lower priced title liek Mr. Baseball.
Supplements: What are the extras?
None.
