Product: A League of Their Own (Widescreen Edition) [VHS] (1992)
Rating: 4.0
Diamond Girls with Dirts in the Skirt!
A League of Their Own was a great baseball film, dedicated to the actual professional womens' baseball league that was established in 1943 and disbanded in 1954.Director Penny Marshall, who's directed her fair share of romantic comedies could have easily made this a maudlin piece, a "chick flick" of epic proportions but thank goodness she didn't.The story has a bit of a plot between all the baseball plays, but if you like baseball, then you will like this film and its all-star cast.The story is really about two sisters: Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty). Kit is very jealous of her sister, feels she can't measure up and blames Dottie for whenever she fails -- and baseball is not exception.As the girls begin to bond and go through their adventures the themes of male chauvinism is pretty strong. So too are the themes of sisterhood and homage to a game that has traditionally shut out women: "Girls can't play baseball!"Madonna plays the sexy Mae: "It's my name, and it's my attitude!" Cute.Rosie O'Donnell running bases makes it hard to believe that she would later be a rather rotund talk show host!Tom Hanks as the has-been drunk coach of the team who at first thinks all he has to do is tip his hat, drink till he stinks and pee in the girls' bathroom. He later snaps to and puts together quite the team.The film also made me more aware of American baseball history -- a chapter I was not aware of. There was a hint of the future -- African Americans in baseball, another disenfranchised group at the time.Recommended, even with the somewhat saccharine sweet ending!Other Penny Marshall Outings:AwakeningsBigCinderella Man (Widescreen Edition)