Movie Info:
Writers:David S. Ward
Director: David S. Ward
Cast: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Rene Russo, Wesley Snipes, Charles Cyphers, Chelcie Ross, Dennis Haysbert, Andy Romano, Bob Uecker, Steve Yeager, Peter Vuckovich
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount
Release Info:
Theatrical Release: April 7, 1989
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $20.49
David S. Ward is a name with which I was not all that familiar. As a director he’s only handled a handful of movies. As a writer, he has more experience, but tends to be a little hit or miss. One of his first projects will always remain one of his best though and that is Major League. The first time I saw this was around the time that it first came on television. It’s likely that I caught it on HBO or some other pay network. At the time, I was not a fan of baseball (now I love the Tigers) and comedy was not my favorite genre of movies, but I instantly loved Major League.
It’s been about twenty years since this movie was first released and watching it again, after not seeing it in years, I’ve found that it’s still as funny as it ever was. I still love this movie as much as I did when I watched it back in the 80s. The same parts still make me laugh out loud and I still want the same couples to get together and the same to break up. Nothing has changed about this movie or my feelings for it. That alone, makes it pretty special. It’s so easy to watch something and like it and then revisit it only to wonder what the hell you were thinking. That wasn’t the case here at all.
Major League succeeds because it is a funny concept with a cast that easily pulls off what is necessary to make the movie a winner. Actors like Charlie Sheen and Wesley Snipes are right on target for what is necessary of them. Tom Berenger is loveable as the old-timer trying to set things right. Corbin Bernsen, on the other hand, you just want to punch in the face. That’s his character though, so it’s all good.
The thing that pushes Major League over the top though is the ensemble cast. There are some great characters that while little in nature, are just hilarious. Characters like Cerrano (a hilarious Dennis Haysbert pre-24), a voodoo believer that cannot hit a curveball, Eddie Harris (Chelcie Ross) the older pitcher that has to lube up his body to make the ball go further, Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker), the announcer that desperately wants to believe that the Indians won’t suck, and groundskeepers (Keith and Kurt Uchima) that think the team is “shitty” all make this a completely entertaining film from start to finish. Margaret Whitton also adds a high level of amusement as the team owner that you love to hate.
The Major League Plot
The concept of Major League is not a new one. It wasn’t even new when the film was released back in the late 80s. It works though because the concept of a failing baseball team filled with comic capers is bound to make you laugh. I never watched the Indians, but am told they went through slumps that would rival the things seen in the film. Whether that is true or not, I can only imagine.
In Major League the Indians suck. They are by far one of the worst teams in all of baseball. They bobble throws, can’t pitch, don’t hit, and they definitely don’t win. It’s just a sad sport all around. Of course, this doesn’t disappoint the new owner of the team, Las Vegas showgirl, Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton – The Best of Times). In fact, she is hoping that the team loses because when they do she can move them to Florida and replace the whole lot of losers! However, she needs to make sure they lose because if attendance is too high, she will never be able to move the team.
With this in mind, it is the team manager, Charlie Donovan’s (Charles Cyphers – Halloween) job to hire the absolute worst team that he can get his hands on. Some team highlights include Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger – Platoon, Gettysburg) an older player with bad knees, Willie “Mays” Hayes (Wesley Snipes – Chaos) a walk-on with some actual talent, voodoo peddling power hitter Pedro Cerrano, and baseball diva Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen – LA Law).
The pitching staff consists of fresh prison recruit, Rick Vaughn (Charlie Sheen – Two and a Half Men) and Eddie Harris (Chelcie Ross – Rudy, Basic Instinct) who is so out of his game you might find a mix of Crisco and snot on the ball when it makes its way to you. The skipper for this team is the former manager of the Toledo Mud Hens, Lou Brown (James Gammon – Urban Cowboy).
Spring training gives Phelps a lot to be hopeful for, because if it could go wrong, it did during training. The power hitter, Hayes, only hits pop flies, Cerrano cannot hit a curveball and every pitcher knows it, and Vaughn has a few issues with some wild pitches. It does not look like it will be a promising season. In fact, the groundskeepers think it’s going to be pretty shitty. The manager hopes to turn this around though and make a fresh start when the season begins.
While baseball is raging, Taylor has the pleasure of seeing an ex-lover that he never managed to get over. He has hopes of rekindling the relationship, though she fails to see why it would be worth the effort when the odds of the aging ballplayer leaving are just as good as they ever were. Still, there is a lot to root for when the team learns Phelps is trying to get rid of them and they band together to make it impossible for her to do so. The remaining question is whether or not they can be good enough to win the whole thing.
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
There isn’t a lot to complain about when it comes to the visual aspects of this Blu-ray release for Major League. Sure, it’s not perfect, but I honestly did not expect it to be perfect. That being said, it’s hardly bad. The 1080p, 1.78:1 aspect ratio does the job well.
The worst portion of the film visually would have to be the opening sequence, before the film begins. This is where you will see more dirt and softness. The film itself offers a fair level of detail, good coloring, and a cleaned up image. Like I said, it’s not perfect but it does look good. This is not going to be comparable to a brand new movie coming to Blu-ray, but for something made in the 80s, it’s looking pretty good these days.
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is used for the audio track of the film. The major downfall here is that the track just really isn’t as dynamic as a sports movie should be, even if it is a comedy. The surround sound is rarely used, as are any of the channels other than the basic, front channel that is common in dialogue driven films. There are a few solitary moments where the audio shines, but they are few and far between. Tracks in Spanish and French Dolby Digital Mono are also included. The audio options finish up with subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Visual: 
Audio:
Bonus Features:
There are a few pretty decent special features for Major League. While I wouldn’t say they hit a home run with these, a ground rule double certainly would be fair. In any case, fans should not be too disappointed by the various features available in this Wild Thing Edition of Major League.
Things begin with a commentary courtesy of David S. Ward and Chris Chesser. The commentary is a pretty calm affair overall. You get to hear about how the director truly loves the Indians. He talks a lot about the franchise and the city of Cleveland. Baseball fans will like this because there is a lot of baseball talk. It’s not a high action track, for sure, but it has it’s moments that certainly make it worth listening to at least once.
“My Kinda Team: Making Major League“: Coming in at close to 30 minutes, you get your basic special making of featurette additions. You will see some interviews with the cast and crew, information on the athletic skills of the actors, and general back patting about the popularity of the film.
“A Major League Look at Major League“: This is one of the most fun offerings, including thoughts and stories from Major and Minor (past and present) Cleveland Indians players. The list includes Grady Sizemore, Aaron Boone, Paul Byrd, and many others. Broadcasters Tom Hamilton and Rick Manning are also interviewed here.
“Bob Uecker: Just a Bit Outside”: This includes all of the players and broadcasters mentioned in the above featurette. Also included are a few of the cast, a crew member or two, and Bob Uecker. This is somewhat of a tribute piece with the group looking at Uecker’s career and his performance in this film.
The features get wrapped up with a less than appealing alternative ending, which includes a filmmaker introduction, a tour of Cerrano’s voodoo locker, and a gallery of photos.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
You don’t have to be a big baseball fan to like Major League though that certainly wouldn’t hurt if you were a fan of the game. Comedy lovers should have a great time with this, as well. It’s a fun movie with a great story that should appeal to both male and female audiences. This already has a great fan base, so if you’re one of the many that love this movie it seems only natural to get the upgrade and enjoy this on Blu-ray.
Overall Rating:
Technorati Tags: Blu-ray Review, Comedy, Baseball, Movie, Cleveland Indians, Wild Thing, Charlie Sheen
Written by Ashtyn Evans – Visit Website
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Ashtyn is in her early 30s. She is a mother, writer, college student, and music lover. Ashtyn has had a successful career as a writer since 2003. She turned to blogging in 2005. Ashtyn attends Wright State where she is getting a degree in Psychology. She has extensive knowledge in SEO and Social Media Development.
