Below is a contribution from guest blogger Jeremy Myerson to our continuing series in which I asked several of my close friends and colleagues to name their Favorite Movie of All Time.
I was recently asked by Josh to be a guest contributor to MotionPicturesComics to help him out as he is surely getting no sleep as a new parent of twin girls! The assignment was to review my favorite film. Being the iconoclast that I am, I refused the task and changed it. To help Josh celebrate the wonder of children, and because Josh and I are long time friends (and co-sufferers) as Mets fans, I instead offer my review of my favorite kids’ baseball film!
There are countless websites and lists dedicated to the ‘Greatest Baseball Films,’ almost all of which exclude my entry for the top of the list: The Sandlot. This wonderful film accomplishes the true essence of baseball… Americana. The bulk of the film takes place in the 1960’s following the life of a runt kid (appropriately nicknamed ‘Smalls’) who moves into a new neighborhood and learns the game of baseball.
While the supporting group of local kids is somewhat reminiscent of The Bad News Bears, you’ll find much more heart and humanity in this motley crew. From the romantically desperate Squints, to Timmy and Tommy Timmons who repeat everything, to the wonderfully bullish and comical Ham Porter (who, of course, is the team’s catcher… think a young ‘Crash Davis’) The passion comes from the fictional future MLB player, Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez.
Baseball becomes the backdrop for the adventures of this group of neighborhood kids, as they invade the local community pool, explore the state fair and even try ‘dip’ like their Major League idols… and learn their lesson in a terrible and comical way. The adventures continue as their ‘Babe Ruth’ ball gets lost in the grouchy neighbor’s yard and is guarded by Hercules, the largest scariest film dog since Cujo.
For me, one of the finest moments in film history occurs when the kids play their only night game of the year on July 4th. The game is lit by the glow of the fireworks… Benny hits a ball up into the night and all the kids stop tracking the ball as they get lost in the glory of the fireworks display (set to Ray Charles’ ‘America the Beautiful’). Benny just keeps on running the bases… true baseball passion.
While this baseball movie has no scandals, no shattered lights and no ghosts in the cornfield it does have appeal to baseball fans of all ages. And it sure doesn’t hurt when you throw in a cameo by James Earl Jones!
Jeremy Myerson is the Training Manager for Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando, Florida. He performs regularly with SAK Comedy Lab, Orlando’s longest running comedy venue, and suffers continually as a fan of the New York Metropolitans.
The series so far:
Intro
Citizen Kane
Hoosiers, The Frisco Kid, & Casablanca
Wax Philosophique
The Hunt for Red October
Raiders of the Lost Ark & The Dark Knight
The Sandlot & A Few Good Men
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Girls Just Want to Have Fun & Little Miss Sunshine
