It Could Have Settled, But Instead Achieved Greatness (Just Like Its Source Material)

Rating: 9/10 (5 March 2017)

Being a Disney production, "The Rookie" could easily have settled to become a weepy dramatic tale dripping with over-dramatized scenes. Luckily, thanks to great acting and an attention to detail, this movie is instead a great human drama focusing on baseball themes.
For a basic plot summary, "The Rookie" tells the true story of Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid), a 36- year old high school chemistry teacher in Texas. After a lifetime of being uprooted time and time again by his military father (Brian Cox), Morris also had his big-league baseball dream cut short by arm injuries. While coaching high school baseball in Texas and raising a family, he suddenly discovers that his left arm has some serious juice left in it. On a bet that inspires his young charges, Morris shows up at a MLB tryout and begins the journey he had thought was dormant forever.
The reason this movie is so moving is because it weaves so many human-drama themes into the proceedings. Many potential viewers may dismiss it as a "baseball movie", but to do so would be foolish. This is more truly a story of family and one man's journey to make peace with his life. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like a story like this. It is just so emotional as Morris interacts with his children, wife, parents, and others affiliated with the baseball side of his life.
Only helping the drama spring to life is the incredible acting. I've seen Quaid in many movie roles, and this one is eclipsed by none of them. His body language and facial expressions carry the emotionally-charged scenes. The supporting cast around him (especially Rachel Griffiths and Angus Young as Morris' wife and son) also shines and really, truth be told, are very much more than "supporting". They are the reasons why Morris does what he does.
Overall, I consider "The Rookie" to be the epitome of a solid, wholesome family drama (and just an incredibly compelling story to boot). I'm a big baseball fan, so perhaps I can appreciate the deeper, more embedded themes of the film more than the non-sports viewer, but to me this is five-star material all the way.