Likable baseball comedy with an good comedic cast.

Rating: 8/10 (23 September 2010)

The Cleveland Indians have been losing for decades. An former showgirl turned owner of the team, Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton) is hoping to move the team to Miami, if the team enters dead last in the season. She decides to hires has beens, ex-cons and even players with no talent behind the game. Veteran catcher Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger), who has bad knees is given one last chance to play with the leagues. An incarcerated but talented if trouble pitcher Rick Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) has an chance to play with the big leagues as well. The brash but speedy Willie "Mays" Hayes (Wesley Snipes), veteran pitcher (Chelcie Ross) who lacks an strong arm, an voodoo practices baseball player (Dennis Haysbert) has trouble hitting curve balls, an spoiled third baseman (Corbin Bernsen) who is already under contract and Lou Brown (James Gammon) is hired by Phelps since he knows how to manage an baseball team. Since Phelps expects nothing for this team. The Cleveland Indians will do their best to prove her wrong.
Written and Directed by David S. Ward (Major League 2, Down Periscope, King Ralph) made an likable baseball comedy with an amusing comedic cast. It's an pleasant comedy if unremarkable movie at times. But it is played straight with some funny satire as well. Berenger and Sheen are certainly good in the movie. Berenger has an nice subplot romance with Rene Russo, who plays his ex-wife in the movie. But it is Gammon, Haysbert and even Bob Uecker as the baseball announcer have the better moments in the movie. An surprise box office hit during the spring of 1989. Which it's spawned an so-so sequel and an decent third movie. "Major League" did went on to have an loyal cult following. The movie certainly tries hard to be the next "Slap Shot", although not totally successful. Still, it is an good movie. Charles Cyphers, who is best known for John Carpenter movies like "Halloween" and "The Fog" has an nice supporting role as the general manager of the team. (****/*****).