A viewer can nitpick all the things about “Major League” (1989) that aren’t quite right. But somehow none of the little flaws lessen the viewing experience. Writer-director David Ward’s underdog comedy – wisely using the Cleveland Indians as the stand-in – delivers laughs and smiles like a big inning built around small ball.
Building a loser
It also prophetically has something to say about the (weird but realistic) corporate tactic of an owner worsening a product in order to make money for herself.
Indians owner Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton) tries to assemble a basement-dweller that will draw less than 800,000 fans for the season.
To commemorate baseball’s All-Star Break, Reviews from My Couch is looking back at the films of the “Major League” franchise from July 13-15.
“Major League” (1989)
Director: David S. Ward
Writer: David S. Ward
Stars: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen
That would allow her to break the lease with the city and move the Tribe to Miami. Even when this mix of banged-up veterans and unpolished rookies becomes inexplicably good and packs Municipal Stadium, she still hates them.
So I guess it’s about power, too, since this ticket-selling team is now making her richer.
Uecker the ace in the hole
A lot of the best chuckles come from a largely improvisational Bob Uecker as radio play-by-play man Harry Doyle. He says things a radio man for a long-suffering franchise would like to say, but in the real world does not.
Plus, anything said by Uecker is naturally funnier than if anyone else says it. For example:
Harry: “One hit. That’s all we got, one goddamn hit?”
Assistant: “You can’t say goddamn on the air.”
Harry: “Don’t worry, nobody is listening anyway.”
(Watched today, it’s clearer than ever how politically incorrect the film is, with Doyle going out of his way to use stereotype-based puns about the Indians – who will retire the controversial nickname after this season. Also, a newspaper headline says the Indians “scalp” the Yankees. Suffice it to say I’ve never gotten that verb to the press in my page-design career.)
A strange but winning formula
“Major League” isn’t a big-laugh comedy; it’s a small-chuckle comedy. It’s a series of base hits with an occasional big knock.
Ward’s film is also a character drama, but a light one. Wobbly kneed veteran catcher Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) tries to re-romance Lynn (“Lethal Weapon 3’s” Rene Russo in her first notable film role). It’s just a matter of time before she admits that yeah, she loves this guy, not her stuffed-shirt fiancé. That time, of course, coincides with the Tribe’s division title.
Ward fibs some baseball economic realities, particularly with Taylor, who drives an old beater and rooms with rookie Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn (Charlie Sheen, “Hot Shots!”) in a ratty apartment.
In his final year, Taylor makes the league minimum. But even if he squandered his earnings from his prime, and even though we’re talking about 1989, the league minimum easily equates to an upper-class lifestyle.
There’s also some parody in here, as junkball pitcher Eddie Harris (Chelcie Ross) is such an obvious cheater that Doyle says things like “Here comes the Vaseline ball” on the air.
And some things don’t make any plot sense. Why does the wife of third baseman Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) purposely seduce Vaughn and then tell her husband? To create a further rift between Dorn and Vaughn, obviously, but why? Will this be addressed in the sequel?
Deep roster of acting talent
“Major League” is unrealistic and nonsensically plotted, and the baseball action is merely passable. None of this hurts the fun factor. I think it’s because of the deep roster of acting talent and the way everyone plays off of each other, with most interactions coming in the locker room.
Manager Lou Brown (James Gammon) is humorous even when making basic statements in his gruff voice. Vaughn plays out his famous arc about having speed but no control, then becoming a star – and a fan favorite — once he gets corrective lenses.
When Indians players trade insults with Yankees first baseman/villain Haywood (Peter Vuckovich), it’s likely not a peek into what players say to each other on the field. This is the game of baseball made into goofy spectacle.
Yet Ward peppers in some knowing specifics, as we get a player who specializes in speed (Wesley Snipes’ Willie Mays Hayes) and another who is extremely superstitious (“24’s” Dennis Haysbert as slugger Pedro Cerrano).
The movie is kind of about real baseball, and kind of a parody of baseball – plus it’s a comedy and a romance. It doesn’t look like a winner on paper, but on the field, “Major League” hits the sweet spot.