A Classic Comedy Romance and Feel Good Movie All In One

Rating: 9/10 (5 October 2009)

Spoilers
This movie is about the Cleveland Indians how their faithful fans finally get a winner out of (ironically) a team put together to lose. The Owner of the team, a former showgirl, wants to move the team to Miame, so she puts together the worst collection of ball players she can possibly assemble. In spite of her actions, the team starts to win, they begin to gel a little, but are not yet playing together as a team. She decides to take some of their things away, like their plane and their equipment. They have to travel by bus, and have no equipment (like whirlpools or hot water, to help their aches and pains). Bob Ucher plays a baseball announcer who adds tremendous comedy to the movie at almost every turn.
Tom Berringer plays Jake Taylor an aging catcher, who knows the game well, but his age is causing problems. Jake's wife (Played by Renee Russo) has divorced him, because he played around when he was younger, but now his aging has changed his view and he is far more serious about baseball and his relationship. He wants a shot at some sort of Baseball Championship as it may be his last shot. He also wants his wife back. However, she is now engaged to a rich successful guy and in addition she continues to see Jake Taylor for the playboy he used to be. It may be too late for either of Jake's goals.
With 41 games left, the Indians have been a shocker in that they are 60 and 61. This is when the coach discovers the new owners true plans to move the team to Miame and get rid of these players. The Coach relays these plans to the players. This is it, the thing that brings them together! Jake verbalizes their goal to win the whole thing. They determine they need 32 more wins to do it. That goal of going 32 and 9 seems impossible, even as motivated as they are to do it.
The Indians begin to play as a team. They work on their weaknesses and the city energizes behind them during a good music/movie montage. They win their way to a one game playoff with the New York Yankees for the Eastern Division Championship.
Well you can guess what happens, and you can also guess what happens with the Jake Taylor and his wife. But, despite this predictability, this movie climax has enough surprises (Centering around Jake Taylor) to rank up there among the very best movie climaxes ever.
This movie exhibits a sound/music climax coinciding with the story climax. Therefore, if you can, try blasting the volume just at the point the Manager calls Ricky Vaughn (the Wild Thing) out of the Bullpen. Leave the volume up from that point upto the final shot. It will be worth it.