The Rookie

It's never too late to believe in your dreams

THE ROOKIE (PG)

D: John Lee Hancock

Disney/Gran Via (Gordon Gray, Mark Ciardi & Mark Johnson)

US 2002

127 mins

Sports/Biopic

W: Mike Rich

DP: John Schwartzman

Ed: Eric L. Beason

Mus: Carter Burwell

Dennis Quaid (Jim Morris), Rachel Griffiths (Lorri Morris), Jay Hernandez (Joaquin 'Wack' Campos), Beth Grant (Ollie), Angus T. Jones (Hunter Morris), Brian Cox (Jim Morris, Sr.)

Despite the film being laced in typical Disney sentimentality, Dennis Quaid delivers one of his career-best performances as an ageing baseball coach who tries out for the major leagues. The film is partly based on the real life story of Jim Morris, who had a brief career spell in Major League Baseball in the late 20th Century.

This well-intentioned family drama would be better appreciated on American shores, but provides reasonable entertainment for everyone else, mostly due to Quaid's empathic performance.

6/10