Search - Mickey - A Family Story by John Grisham on DVD

One more season

Lorraine | mid-west | 06/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was stunned that this movie captured the same sentiments I had when watching my sons play baseball. There is nothing like the culmination of a twelve-year olds season, the tournaments on the road, and under the lights. It is a good story for young (and seasoned) athletes of any sport, of any game: The consequences of making a decision are complex, and go way beyond the moment in time and space. And, yeah!! the players weren't faking; they were real!"

Great Baseball Action, Decent Movie

Brian Baute | Harrisburg, NC United States | 06/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Good:
* Great baseball action. Much more realistic than almost every other kids baseball movie I've seen. The actors obviously know how to really play.
* Good, clean, family movie. Absolutely no foul language. No sex except one regrettable piece of audio (see below).
* Decent plot and acting for a kids' movie. Let's be honest - this isn't great cinema and isn't at the same level of dramatic effect as traditional Grisham work. But accept it for what it is and enjoy it.

The Bad:
* One unnecessary scene where the coaches forget to cut off access to adult channels in the hotel room and the scene cuts to the kids watching porn - the TV isn't shown but you hear moans and groans in the background. Just watch for the scene where the coaches are walking down the hotel hallway and mute the next 30 seconds.
* Everyone experiences the consequences of their cheating (they're stripped of the LLWS crown, the Cubans are sent away in disgrace, and Trip goes to jail), but the consequences fly by in about two minutes of film time. Pay attention or you'll miss it.
* The final scene shows Mickey reunited with his dad after Trip's year in jail, but it looks like the boys have aged about 4 years during that span. A jarring change.
* The IRS inexplicably chases down one-time tax fraud Trip but lets the career false-identity-creator go free just because he tells the feds what Trip's new name is.
* The little league coach is incompetent and portrayed as obviously overmatched and visibly overcome with nerves in every big game. The kids, though, are as cool as the other side of the pillow. Typical kids movie device, much as I hate it."