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The Sandlot | Year: 1993 Classification: Feature Film Family Directed: - David M. Evans Actors/Actresses: - Tom Guiry - Mike Vitar - Patrick Renna - Chauncey Leopardi - Shane Obedzinski The Sandlot... Hits a Home Run! The Sandlot is one of the better films from a slew of kid baseball movies that came out in the 1990's. It's nostalgic almost in the vain of the coming of age stance of STAND BY ME, but it is not as heavy handed. It's positive and fun. The plot revolves around a newcomer,Scotty Smalls(Tom Guiry)to a 60's California neighborhood. Scotty is trying to figure out and start a relationship with new stepdad (Denis Leary), and he is introduced to sandlot baseball from the neighborhood boys. At first glance, it looked like the film would be the neighborhood boys vs. the new kid on the block. Fortunately, it didn't go this route. When Scotty doesn't know a thing about baseball (not even the basics of throwing and catching) he is ostracized right away. However, this is quickly resolved. One of the boys, Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) gives Scotty simple advice and confidence and within moments, he is accepted into sandlot baseball by the other boys and, playing the game of baseball. The scene is done well, showing the great universality of Baseball in which anyone, young and old, can learn to play the game. The rest of the film are various vignetts of summer fun for these coming of age pre-teens and their friendship and comraderie. All with sandlot baseball as the backdrop. Also, part of story involves a legendary junkyard dog behind the sandlot's centerfield wall, harboring all the "homerun" balls. When a certain important baseball is hit over the fence,the rest of the film shows the gang trying to get the ball away from the dog in various ways. The film is fun and nostalgic and the cast of the neighborhood/sandlot boys are all likeable. Great cameo by James Earl Jones as a blind former Negro Leaguer and unsung character actor Art LaFleur (FOREVER YOUNG, AIR AMERICA) as Babe Ruth. "This is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. Just have fun." Back in 1993, two movies involving baseball and children, The Sandlot and Rookie of the Year, came out in the theaters about the same time, both being released by Twentieth Century Fox. I remember Rookie of the Year was pushed hard by the studio while The Sandlot got much less advertising and publicity, which was too bad because I always thought The Sandlot was a much better film. Scotty Smalls, his mother (Karen Allen), and his step dad (Dennis Leary) just moved into the neighborhood and Scotty is having problems acclimating himself to his social surroundings. An intelligent boy (an egghead), he lacks certain abilities most boys have, like knowing how to catch and throw a ball, any basic baseball rules, or who's the Great Bambino. The movie does an excellent job in providing just enough depth into these characters to provide a sense of the family dynamic given that Allen and Leary have limited screen time. In attempting to join a neighborhood pick up game, Scotty's lack of rudimentary baseball skills is made painfully apparent, to which all the boys except Bennie, the best player of the bunch, let their derisive comments fly. Bennie, feeling a bit sorry for the new kid, gives Scotty a couple of tips and a little extra help in a well hit fly ball that gives Scotty a measure of confidence and helps bring him into the gang. Once Scotty's accepted into the group the movie delves into a plot involving a priceless baseball and a local dog with a mythical reputation. What I really liked was how all the boys came together to help a friend in need, and it was an automatic response. If someone in the circle needs help, the group rallies around, regardless, as they would have done the same for any other member. While a seemingly natural trait in children (atleast in this movie), it seems to be one that becomes lost as we grow older, as seen in Scotty's step dad and his reluctance to play catch with Scotty because he has too much work and doesn't have the time. What's so great about this movie is while it's set in the 50's, the story appeals to most anyone. Whether or not we all had that one great summer or just fond remembrances of childhood friends and activities in general, the movie serves to help recall days when things were simple, and summers were made up of endless possibilities. While watching this movie, I thought about friends I had when I was a kid, phrases we used, nicknames, activities, etc. No real extras on this disc, but a great presentation of a wonderful movie. My favorite part involved one of the boys called Squints, a smaller boy with great, big glasses, and scene with curvaceous, older, female lifeguard at the local pool. The Sandlot (1993) Director: David Mickey Evans<BR>Cast: Karen Allen, Dennis Leary, James Earl Jones, Arliss Howard, Tom Guirney<BR>Running Time: 100 minutes.<BR>Rated PG for some slapstick humor and some language. "The Sandlot" is a great youth film that will keep the parents entertained as well, making it one of the few family sports films that not either too cheesy for adults to enjoy or too suggestive to be appropriate for children. Set in the 1950's or so in a normal suburban town, Tom Guirney plays a short, shy kid who has just moved to the new neighborhood. He has always struggled with making friends, but eventually he gets involved with a group who love to play the good ol' American pasttime. The group (which consists of many hilarious and memorable youngsters) go through many trials and tribulations together--chewing their first slab of tobacco while riding on a devastating roller-coaster, giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to one of the hottest girls in the history of the world, retreiving a special Babe Ruth autographed baseball that has been snatched up by the child-eating neighborhood pooch, and trying to beat the stuck-up traveling baseball team. When it is all said and done, "The Sandlot" is an above average tale of the joys of childhood and using the great game of baseball as its playing field. There are some hilarious scenes throughout, fine acting by the young cast, and a well-scripted screenplay that will make those of all ages laugh. A true gem of a family tale. The Sandlot (1993) Director: David Mickey Evans "The Sandlot" is a great youth film that will keep the parents entertained as well, making it one of the few family sports films that not either too cheesy for adults to enjoy or too suggestive to be appropriate for children. Set in the 1950's or so in a normal suburban town, Tom Guirney plays a short, shy kid who has just moved to the new neighborhood. He has always struggled with making friends, but eventually he gets involved with a group who love to play the good ol' American pasttime. The group (which consists of many hilarious and memorable youngsters) go through many trials and tribulations together--chewing their first slab of tobacco while riding on a devastating roller-coaster, giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to one of the hottest girls in the history of the world, retreiving a special Babe Ruth autographed baseball that has been snatched up by the child-eating neighborhood pooch, and trying to beat the stuck-up traveling baseball team. When it is all said and done, "The Sandlot" is an above average tale of the joys of childhood and using the great game of baseball as its playing field. There are some hilarious scenes throughout, fine acting by the young cast, and a well-scripted screenplay that will make those of all ages laugh. A true gem of a family tale. Buy The Sandlot at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  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