Rating: 
Summary: A Rookie Only On the Field
Review: Sometimes a movie comes along that from the very first reel you just know will grab you on a human interest level. THE ROOKIE is the story of high school chemistry teacher Jim Morris, who in the short space of three months goes from tossing beaker tubes to hurling baseballs for the major league Tampa Bay Devils. What makes this movie noteworthy is what it chose not to be. Dennis Quaid, as Jim Morris, could have played him as a diamond version of ROCKY II, with all the hoopla and music of that film. Instead, what you get is a traditional feel good movie minus the irritating schmaltz.The first half of the movie is more interesting than the latter half which details Morris' rapid climb from double A ball to the big show. You see Morris as a little leaguer who lives only to play ball. In this youthful Morris, you also see both Lou Gherig swatting baseballs through a grocer's window and just about every kid who has dreamed of playing major league pro ball. There is also a carefully structured subtext of a father's need to play the heavy just to earn money to put bread on the table. Morris' father has to continually move his family from state to state, with each time resulting in continuing disappointment for a boy who wants only to stay in one place long enough to finish a season with the same team. This same theme that troubled his father early on returns to haunt the adult Morris, who finds that he has to make a similar decision concerning himself about whether he should surrender his dream of baseball and take a badly needed job of teaching or he should keep his dream even if his family suffers. It is this battle of a good man wrestling with his conscience that makes THE ROOKIE resonate with a charm that has not been seen in any sports movie for a long time. The baseball scenes detailing his high school winning streak that causes him to try out for the major leagues and his own duels on the mound are both thrilling and inspirational. Yet, nowhere in the film does even one pitch not ring true. Dennis Quaid plays Morris in the sort of low key manner that Gary Cooper as Lou Gherig or Jimmy Stewart as Monty Stratton showed in earlier decades. Unlike Cooper or Stewart, Quaid permits himself the luxury of doubt, which in turn makes the ending even more of a treat. The ROOKIE proves once again that success in life is not measured by the payoff of a dream but rather in having had that dream in the first place.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular! A must see!
Review: This is an excellent movie, and a must see!!! Our whole family enjoyed this one, while it proved you are never too old to chase a dream. The fact that it was based on a true story, just added to the story! A good wholesome true-to-life family movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Not As Good As I Thought It Would be
Review: The Rookie wasn't very good. I thought it would be great because i love baseball and softball, but I guess i was disappointed. I thought it was pretty boring. Dennis Quaid did pretty well but still the movie didn't do much for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Pity the Poor Teachers and Tire Shop Workers
Review: A truly inspirational movie for all the teachers and tire shop workers out there. Can't wait for the sequel when he figures out he can play golf and blows away Tiger Woods. No wonder they can't find people to teach...
Rating: 
Summary: another sentimental baseball fable
Review: When women feel the need for a 'good cry' at the movies, they usually seek out some tragic tale of unrequited love to do the trick. When men feel the same need, they turn to a film about baseball. And what could be more guaranteed to convert a grown man into a shamelessly blubbering fool than a true-life account of a middle-aged baseball fanatic who gets to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing in the major leagues? How many men can fail to identify with that? Indeed, most men may not want to admit this, but the baseball movie genre has, in many ways, become the male equivalent of that category of film known, derisively by many men, as the 'chick flick,' for they both serve roughly the same purpose. Apparently, even we stoic males have the need to clear out the tear ducts every now and then - for purely medical reasons of course. Because baseball has long enjoyed the reputation of being 'America's National Pastime,' moviemakers have often treated it less as a sport than as an iconic institution. From 'Pride of the Yankees' to 'Brian's Song' to 'Bang the Drum Slowly' to 'The Natural' to 'Field of Dreams,' movies about baseball have been so concerned with all the mythic implications of the sport that they have rarely managed to convey the sense of carefree fun that comes along with it ('Bull Durham' has been one of the few obvious exceptions to this rule). The tone in these films is sometimes so sentimental and so reverential that one begins to view baseball more as a type of pseudo religion - with the stadium functioning as a sort of temple where people gather to participate in a communal spiritual experience - than as a form of entertainment. 'The Rookie' certainly falls into this category, yet the film itself has such an air of comforting familiarity about it that it manages to override much of the conventionality of the storyline. Although we always know where the movie is headed, the easy assuredness with which it charts its course keeps us interested and absorbed for most of the duration. The majority of the credit goes to Dennis Quaid who, as Jim Morris, the high-school-teacher-turned-big-league-ballplayer, does a first rate job portraying a man torn between responsibility to his family and this golden, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of realizing a childhood dream. Quaid underplays the role so nicely that we never doubt for a moment the authenticity of all we are seeing on screen. The screenplay by Mike Rich, though filled with overly familiar scenes and characters, nevertheless manages to avoid many of the potential lapses into overwrought melodrama that could conceivably have robbed it of much of its credibility (the dark hints early on in the film as to Morris' problematic physical condition happily never come to fruition). Director John Lee Hancock establishes an almost elegiac tone, pacing the film in such a way as to match the unhectic lifestyle of both Morris and the small Texas town in which he lives. 'The Rookie,' like Disney's previous sports opus 'Remember the Titans,' eschews violence, sexuality and bad language completely, thereby garnering the film a 'G' rating and making it first class entertainment for the entire family. There may be nothing much new in it for adults, but 'The Rookie' has the skill to make what was old seem somehow new again. Not unlike what happens to the hero himself in fact.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing
Review: "The Rookie" lacked originality and focus. It's kind of like two stories that are lamely put together. The first half of the movie was about his success in inspiring his high school baseball team to a winning season, and the second half was about his fulfilled dream of pitching in the ML. There was no cohesion in the film and I wondered if the team's success would have been a better movie all by itself. This movie did nothing for me.
Rating: 
Summary: A DREAM COME TRUE...
Review: This is a heart warming, family friendly Disney movie that is based upon the true story of Texan Jim Morris, a baseball buff and minor leagues player has been, who becomes a high school teacher and baseball coach in a town where football is king. To motivate the lackluster baseball team he coaches, Jim strikes a deal with the team, which the the team initiates, knowing that their coach pitches a mean fast ball. Jim agrees that if they wins the district championship, he will try out for a major leagues baseball team. Much to his surprise and chagrin, the high school team he coaches goes on to take it all, and the thirty something Jim is forced to come to terms with his pledge. He does so, trying out for a major leagues baseball team, and finds himself living a dream come true. How can he not, with a fast ball clocking at 98 miles per hour? Dennis Quaid, with his shy, boyish charm and ingratiating toothy grin, is terrific in the role of Jim Morris. Rachel Griffiths is excellent as his down to earth, supportive wife. The rest of the cast also give very good performances. With its G rating, this film is suitable for all ages. It is an enjoyable, feel good, message movie. The DVD has a number of excellent bonus features, in additional to the usual deleted scenes segment. Baseball buffs and those who play the game will certainly enjoy the feature "Spring Training: Tips From the Pros". I especially enjoyed the featurette "The Inspirational Story of Jim Morris", in which Jim Morris himself tells in his own words the incredible journey that led to the realization of his dream.
Rating:
Summary: Dare to dream
Review: Jim Morris wanted nothing more than to play in the major leagues. He grew up with a baseball in his hand, throughout a series of family moves and even in a town where baseball was almost nonexistent. An injury in his early 20s ended his dreams, however. Morris went on to become a high school teacher, at least until his baseball team talked him into trying out for the majors again. He went, tried out, and threw 98 mph. The rest is history. This film is based on the true story of Jim Morris. Dennis Quaid puts on a fabulous performance as Morris, and he is surrounded by a very capable supporting cast. This is destined to become a Disney classic, and proves that dreams really do come true. And, with the G rating, it's suitable for anyone, whatever the age.
Rating:
Summary: Based on the life of Jimmy Morris
Review: The Rookie is about a young boy who grows up, plays baseball, gets hurt and becomes a high school teacher who then finds out that he can throw 98 mph. And un-like My Dog Skip, the person who is the star opf the movie is still alive. As the movie opens, a young Jimmy Morris (Morgan) loves the game of baseball, but because of his father's (Brain Cox) job, he has to move and move and move. Until they move once again to Texas. And to a town where baseball is not a big sport, but football is. As an adult, Jimmy Morris (Dennis Quaid) is a high school teacher and also coaches the school's baseball team. They start out as losers until a player strikes a deal, that if the team starts winning again and wins at discrit, that Jimmy Morris will have to try out again. Now as a warning, this movie runs 2 hours and 7 minutes long. Also has an adult, Jimmy is married and has a young son (Angus T. Jones). So before watching this movie try to take a bathroom break, or get something to eat, and move around for a while. The real Jimmy Morris appears as an umpire.
Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly Good
Review: I'm not baseball fan, so I paid no attention to the ads for this film when it was released and I learned about it for the first time when I was coaxed into watching the DVD. I was greatly surprised. At the heart of this film is a dream. Anyone who's ever had a dream, given up a dream or might still be working on one can relate to Jim Morris' story. For once Disney is light on the saccharine scenes because it doesn't need it. "The Rookie" maintains its authenticity while telling a fantastic story. The scenes are well done, the script fantastic, the acting believable. It's a perfect film to watch with your kids. The bonus material on the true story behind the movie is really inspiring.
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