A real natural

Rating: Null/10 (4 April 2002)

THE ROOKIE (2002) **1/2 Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Brian Cox, Jay Hernandez, Beth Grant, Angus T. Jones, Rick Gonzalez, Chad Lindberg. Better-than-anticipated yet predictable true life' account of Texas chemistry high school teacher/baseball coach Jim Morris (Quaid at his most amiable/vulnerable) whose lifetime ambition to play professional ball returns in the form of his dormant fastball and love of his family to fulfill his dreams. Corny in the best ways and fun all around make up for the by-the-numbers connections that ultimately lead to the hero's quest. (Dir: John Lee Hancock)