Home Run Showdown

Released in 2012, Home Run Showdown is one of those sports films where a ragtag group of kids end up on the same sports team, learn to work together, and show that despite initially being castoffs as individuals they can win as a team. It's The Mighty Ducks, it's Little Giants, it's Bad News Bears... it's that kind of story.

This film centers around two constantly feuding brothers Joey (played by Matthew Lillard) and Rico (played by Dean Cain). Rico is the successful, ex- big league player who recruits all the top kids in his town to play for his little league team. Joey is a bit of a loser who got kicked out of minor league baseball and gets stuck coaching the players none of the other coaches want. These are, of course, the usual sports movie castoffs like a fat kid and a girl. The main kid, and source of the movies title, is a boy named Lori who takes the game very seriously. Lori needs his team to be good enough to qualify to participate in the nationally televised 'Home Run Showdown' so that his dad, who is in prison, can see him on TV. Additionally, Joey and Rico's father is going to retire soon and whichever son's team does better at the Showdown, that son will inherit his sports bar.

Overall, while not a fantastic movie, it's watchable. It's predictable, the acting isn't the best and the main kid often comes off more bratty than determined which makes him a pretty unlikeable character. If, like me, you have an elementary school-age kid who like s sports then this makes for a decent 'family movie night' viewing.

2 out of 5

Ranking The Pixar Films

For over 20 years Pixar animation has been making films that are fun for the whole family. The most recent addition to the Pixar library, ' Toy Story 4', was just recently released and I thought it would be fun to take a look back at all these films for an overall ranking. I have done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe films (to check out that list click here). I update those rankings after each new film comes out and I plan on doing the same with this one. As with my Marvel rankings, this is just how I see the films when I compare characters, story, and overall rewatchability. I'm only going to be ranking the major theatrical releases, no animated shorts or direct to DVD movies.

#21 The Good Dinosaur (2015) 

One of these had to be the worst and I found this film thoroughly unenjoyable.

#20 Cars 2 (2011)

Barely escaping the bottom spot on this list is the dumb, misguided 'Cars 2'. If you haven't seen it, don't bother.

#19 Finding Dory (2016) 

It all worked in 'Finding Nemo' but this entry felt stale and about 10yrs too late.

#18 Ratatouille (2007)

This is odd one in that, though it's not a bad film, it's just forgettable. I often don't even remember that it's a Pixar movie.

#17 Cars 3 (2017)

I wrote a whole review on this one that you can check out here. In short, it's fine. Some good animation and a laugh or two, but nothing special.

#16 Inside Out (2015)

A lot of people fell in love with this one, so maybe its just me, but I thought this one was really underwhelming. The voice acting is solid and I like the concept, it just didn't work for me.

 

#15 A Bugs Life (1998)

It's a cute, entertaining movie. It's not amazing but I enjoyed it when it came out and it still holds up ok.

#14 Up (2009)

This was a hard one to rank because it starts out really strong. Unfortunately, for the most part the film is just average with a decent moment or two scattered throughout.

 

#13 Brave (2012) 

I'm not going to rave that this is an excellent film, but I do think it's a bit underrated by most.

#12 Monsters University (2013) 

This one is a mixed-bag. It's not nearly as good as 'Monsters Inc.' but there's still some funny moments and I like all of the characters.
 

#11 Cars (2006) 

Unlike it's two sequels, I actually do like the first 'Cars' film. I've rewatched it a few times and always enjoy it.

#10 Toy Story 2 (1999) 

This one, in my opinion, is the weakest of the 'Toy Story' films. However, it's still a real good movie. 
 

#9 The Incredibles (2004)

Pixar's attempt at a superhero movie ended up being one of their better ones.

#8 The Incredibles 2 (2018)

I like this one better than the first. It's not an all-time great film, but it is fun.


#7 Toy Story 4 (2019)

Toy Story 4 is a completely unnecessary sequel, but a ton of fun nonetheless.


#6 Coco (2017)

Though it may move up or down a spot on this list with more viewings, I think it's safe to say this one is a return to form after a few films in a row that I found underwhelming.

 

#5 Wall-E (2008)

Usually I have a good idea of what I'm going to get going into these movies, 'Wall E' was a rare exception. While it's not perfect, it was far better than I expected it to be.

#4 Finding Nemo (2003)

This one effectively combines a simple but interesting plot with unique characters and some really impressive animation.

#3 Toy Story 3 (2010)

 This one hit every beat I was hoping it would when I first went to the theater to check it out.
It's a really solid movie, with a lot of heart.

#2 Monsters Inc. (2001)

I love this one. It's a ton of fun, and still enjoy it with every repeat viewing. Mike and Sully are right up there with Buzz and Woody as my favorite set of Pixar buddies playing off one another.

#1 Toy Story (1995)

This is the gold standard by which I always compare Pixar films too. It's fun, the characters are great, it's enjoyable start to finish, and it represents a milestone in animation.


Do you agree with my rankings?
How would you rank all these film?
Let me know in the comments below.

Today's Movie: The Man from Left Field

The Man from Left Field is a 1993 TV-movie directed by, produced by, and starring Burt Reynolds and, for something that it sounds like he was heavily invested in, Burt gives a pretty phoned-in performance.

The movie is about a drifter with amnesia that wanders into a small town one day, starts giving baseball tips to a little league team, and thus becomes their coach. None of the parents seem to have a problem with this, but that's besides the point. Anyway, this is a movie full of problems so I'll start with the team. This is the stereotypical, 90's, ragtag team of nonthreatening misfits: There's a short kid, a kid with glasses, a pudgy kid, a kid with a troubled home life, one kid that's actually pretty good at the sport, etc. Imagine a less interesting version of the kids from The Sandlot or Disney's The Mighty Ducks and that's this team. 

Along the way Burt Reynolds is teaching them life lessons and helping them with their problems, and all the while he can't remember any of his past. He also starts dating the mom of one of the players, she's played by Reba McEntire, and she seems like the only person who's actually trying in the movie. One evening one of the kids runs away, falls into a lake and, of course, Burt Reynolds saves him. The traumatic experience gives Burt his memory back, for some reason, and he remembers that he used to be a great Major League player and...also... a Doctor?! Why? I don't know, that part just comes out of left field (pun intended).

Anyway, you can probably guess how it ends, the team wins the big game against last years champs who are also a bunch of rich bullies and everyone presumably live happily ever after. It's not a good movie. In addition to the things I already mentioned, there are also some random awkwardly placed freeze frames, music that doesn't always seem to fit the mood, and some really cheesy writing.

Overall, it's watchable but not something I recommend.

I give it a 1 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

The Smurfs (2011)

 

With a new Smurfs movie coming next year, I figured I'd take look back at the first one.

The Smurfs is a 2011 comedy combining computer-animation and live-action and it's based on the characters from both the comics and the 80's "hit?" cartoon of the same name. I'll let you know right up-front, this movie is not very good. 

The film starts with the Smurfs preparing for a Blue Moon Festival which is soon interrupted by a wizard named Gargamel (played by Hank Azaria) and his cat. The Smurfs run into a cave where they find a magic water vortex and they jump in hoping to escape. Of course, the vortex sends them to New York City, because there has never been a fish out of water story where an innocent character(s) end up in NYC. *cough* The Muppets Take Manhattan *cough* Big *cough* Mr. deeds Goes to Town *cough* George of the Jungle *cough* Coming to America *cough* Crocodile Dundee *cough* Splash *cough*... You get the idea. 

It's not an original premise and you see every joke in this one coming from a mile away. The plot is pretty basic: The Smurfs need another blue moon to open up a portal to get back home and during their time in New York they get into all sorts of mishaps, and befriend two human characters played by Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays, all the while trying to stay one step ahead of Gargamel. Oh and you can't forget the classic cliche of having the lovable screw-up character ending up as the hero in the end.

Overall, The Smurfs is not that funny or well written and the animation isn't impressive, but God bless Hank Azaria. It may be a bad movie and he could've phoned it in, but man he gives it his all so I've gotta give him some credit. I have a 4yr old and movie kept him entertained but, unless you have a little kid, I wouldn't recommend it.

I give this one a 1 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

10 Movies To Watch This Holiday Season

It's December, it's getting colder outside and Christmas is fast approaching. Between battling the crowds at the mall and attending Christmas parties, you may find some time to watch a couple of movies to really get you into to the holiday spirit. So grab and glass of eggnog and plate of gingerbread cookies, because I've got 10 films to make your holiday season a little brighter.

#10 The Santa Clause -1994

Although I'm not a fan of the sequels, The Santa Clause 2 (2002) and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), I think this one is a solid movie. It's not perfect, but it's one of those films that the whole family can sit back and enjoy while having some hot cocoa on a chilly winter evening.

#9 Die Hard -1988

For those who want an action-packed holiday movie, nothing beats Die Hard. For anyone that hasn't seen this one, Bruce Willis plays a New York cop named John McClane who travels to Los Angeles to attend his estranged wife's Christmas party at Nakatomi Tower. But, a group of terrorists seize the tower, take hostages and it's up to McClane to save the day.

 

#8 A Charlie Brown Christmas -1965

For many people, myself included, watching this one has become something of a Christmas tradition. The Peanuts characters are iconic, and there are some funny moments, but what sets this this apart from so many other animated Christmas movies is that it directly addresses the over-commercialization of the holiday and reminds the viewer of the true meaning of Christmas.

#7 The Nightmare Before Christmas -1993

Love Christmas but sad Halloween is over? Then this is probably the go-to film for you. It's all the cheer and joy of one mixed with the spookiness of the other. The songs are great, and the movie is a ton of fun anytime of the year but particularly when watched during that 54 day span between Halloween night and Christmas morning.

#6 Elf - 2003

Elf is arguably the best Christmas movie to come out in the last 20 years. Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf, a wide-eyed, naive, man-child that travels to New York City to find his Dad. Buddy spreads Christmas cheer wherever he goes in this hilarious, modern Christmas classic.

#5 Christmas Eve on Sesame Street -1978

"I hate Christmas! And if you want the truth, I ain't so crazy about Thanksgiving or Labor Day either!" -Oscar the Grouch

If there was ever a stick in the mud to rival Ebenezer Scrooge or the Grinch, it's Oscar the Grouch. In fact, he's part of the reason that ever since I was a little kid this has been one of my favorite holiday movies. All of the best Christmas films need a character that is devoid of Christmas cheer, because it helps illustrate how the holiday has the power to bring out the best in all of us.
 Even though this one is aimed towards children, I surprisingly enjoy it just as much as an adult.

#4 Batman Returns -1992

Batman + Christmas, You can't go wrong. It's Christmas time in Gotham City and Batman is up against two iconic villains, the Penguin and Catwoman... Plus, Christopher Walken is in it. So, take a break from building that gingerbread Batcave, and pop in Batman Returns.

#3 Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! -

You can keep Santa, and Rudolf, and all the elves because when I think of great Christmas characters I immediately think of the Grinch. In a way it's the perfect Christmas story, because a lot of us are cynical jackasses throughout much of the year, but when the holiday season rolls around our hearts often grow a few sizes.

 #2  The Muppet Christmas Carol -1992

 Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous Christmas stories ever written, and there are a ton of film adaptations of that story. My favorite version just happens to be the one starring the Muppets. Michael Caine plays a great Scrooge, and that Muppet brand of humor blends surprisingly well with the story.

#1 It's a Wonderful Life -1946

 I could have possibly moved around or swapped out a few films on this list but if there is one must watch film for me, it's this one. It's a timeless classic and it's not only a great Christmas movie, but one of my favorite films in general.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone. 

Have a suggestion for a review or want to recommend a Christmas movie that didn't make it onto this list? Leave it in the comments below.

Tangled (2010)

I had recently gone to see Disney's newest film Moana (you can check out my review of that film by clicking here). Afterwards, I got into a conversation about Disney's other computer-animated films and realized I hadn't seen 2010's Tangled since it was in the theaters, so I decided to re-watch it.

Walt Disney Animation Studios had previously released a few computer-animated feature films like 2005's Chicken Little and 2008's Bolt, but this was a cut above. 

The plot isn't anything mind blowing: A magical golden flower with the power to reverse aging, and heal illness and injury, etc. is used to heal a sick Queen and, soon afterwards, the Queen gives birth to Princess Rapunzel. But it isn't long before Rapunzel is kidnapped by an old woman named Gothel (voiced by Donna Murphy) who had been using the flower to temporarily regain her youth and has discovered that Rapunzel's hair has the flower's same magical properties. The only problem is that if Rapunzel's hair is cut, it loses it's healing powers, so Gothel keeps her locked away in a tower in the forest. However, as Rapunzel grows up, she eventually wants to leave the tower and see the world a little bit, particularly the lanterns that the whole kingdom releases into the air once a year on Rapunzel's birthday. Gothel, of course, wants to keep Rapunzel's magic hair all for herself and doesn't allow her leave the tower. Eventually, a thief named Flynn Ryder (voiced by Zachary Levi) who is on the run from both the authorities, as well as, two other thieves that he double-crossed ends up finding the tower. From there, the rest of the film pretty much plays out as you'd expect. Flynn and Rapunzel have a wild adventure, and while being pursued by Gothel, and the Kingdoms soldiers, and the two other thieves, they fall in love and eventually live happily ever after.

This is Disney's bread and butter, as Tangled is a film very much in their classic fairy tale formula: There's a princess, an evil old woman, a fall-in-love in just a couple of days love story, an animal sidekick, the songs are good, the animation is good etc. So, it could've easily been a forgettable, paint-by-numbers family movie. However, there are things that do set this apart from many other movies with similar plots. It's entertaining all the way through with some really funny moments along the way, Rapunzel's pet chameleon Pascal in particular that provides quite a few laughs. The voice-acting of Zachary Levi and Donna Murphy is solid, but it's Mandy Moore that really stands out as the voice of Rapunzel and brings that character to life. Overall, It's not my all-time favorite Disney movie but, there's a lot to like about it and it is thoroughly enjoyable.

I give this one a 4 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

Animation Double Feature

I don't often review animated films, but I have two recent releases for this entry: Storks and Trolls. 

First let's take a look at Storks. 

This one mixes solid fast-paced animation with some fun characters. The movie throws what feels like a million jokes at you, but not all of them hit their mark. Overall, while Storks isn't spectacular or groundbreaking, it is an entertaining family flick. 

I give it a 3 out of 5.

Next up, Trolls. 

Colors! Yea sure it lacks a decent story, and developed characters, and clever humor, and the musical numbers add little to nothing to the plot... But at least it's bright. I'd recommend skipping this one. It's a straight-to-DVD quality movie that somehow got a big screen release.

I give this one a 0 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review? 

Leave it in the comments below.