Mickey

As a former Little League dad and Little League coach, I was curious about the movie, particularly because part of it was filmed in our home town. So I admit to a little bias when I see some people I know in the movie.

That notwithstanding, I very much enjoyed it. The producers decided to cast baseball players and teach them to act, rather than trying to teach actors to play baseball. The baseball sequences are well done, and very realistic to Little League experience.

I was wondering how they were going to deal with the basic problem of making a feel-good ending out of a pretty lousy set of circumstances, and I really thought they did it well.

I suspect that it will not get great reviews -- there is not a lot of complexity and brooding and foreboding, no sex, violence or cursing, etc.

It's a little like "The Mighty Ducks"; the fact pattern is believable if improbable, kids mature and succeed, parent makes a good connection with a love interest, and by the end you like the characters and you care what happens to them.

Good summer flick.

I had the opportunity to listen to John Grisham in Ottawa Ontario, Canada in April 2001 discuss his upcoming project "Mickey". Now, in April 2004 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I was able to see the movie and again listen to John Grisham at a private screening along with the Director Hugh Wilson. "Mickey" was well worth waiting for.

Using Little League Baseball as a background, the Plot centers on a father/son relationship and the difficult choices they have to make. The drive of "Mickey" is focused on the choices made by the Father (Harry Connick Jr.) and how they affect not only his son, but the lives of the team his son plays for.

This is not a "Hollywood" movie. It is far superior to the high tech improbable entertainment that "Hollywood" churns out these days.

Hugh Wilson deftly guides this fine character study that came from the heart of writer John Grisham. Harry Connick Jr. gives his best performance to date (Deserving a nod for Best Actor) and is aided by the fine supporting cast. Mike Starr, as the coach, is one of those character actors ala Jack Elam, Harry Dean Stanton, Kevin Pollock....who you recognize, but just can't remember the name to go with the face, is deserving of a nomination for Best Supporting Actor as he pulls out terrific performance by 1st timer Shawn Salinas (Mickey) and Harry Connick Jr. Michelle Johnson (Blame it on Rio) also contributes to the angst displayed by HCJ.

This is a fine family movie to be enjoyed by all.

While I'm not particularly a fan of baseball, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie about a young man who, due to circumstances surrounding his father's issues with the IRS, gets to delay his transition from child to teenager and repeat his last year of little league. While I wasn't particularly able to relate to the baseball part so much, I certainly WAS able to relate to IRS "problems", so I personally did not find this sub-plot to be a distraction.

An added plus was discovering that real little league players were used in the cast. While there =was= a script, the effect was that of just watching boys being boys. I didn't find the plot line to be contrived at all. The obvious love of a father for his son was an emotionally uplifting aspect of this moving story.

If you are looking for a super intense thriller like the past John Grisham based films. This film is not for you. But if you are looking for a great little family film to watch with your little sluggers-- this is the perfect film for you.

MICKEY is a sweet and honest story of redemption centered around little league baseball. Harry Connick Jr. does a great job playing. Tripp Spence, who flees with his son, and assumes a new identity, after being indicted for tax fraud. Although his son Mickey is technically too old for Little League baseball, their invented lives allow for him to play another year. Mickey's superb performance draws attention to the team, bringing with it the possibility that law enforcement agents will find Spence. Spence and his son must therefore contend with the consequences of their cheating and learn a valuable life lesson.

MICKEY is a wonderful family-friendly film that reinforces the concept of fairness and taking responsibility for your actions both sports and within the rest of your life. MICKEY is chalk full of high energy little-league baseball action and delivers a powerful and positive message. It's perfect for a pizza night at home with the kids or even a rained out sporting event.

Enjoy!!

I saw Mickey with my wife and our two sons who, while past their little league days, at 15 and 17 are still close enough to have distinct memories of the experience. I thought the movie itself was watchable, but not much more than that...too many innings of baseball that had me squirming like I was sitting on a hard bleacher bench.

What I really liked was the conversation it stimulated over dinner afterwards. Was the con justified in any way? What's the right way to pick a rec team? Would Mickey's teammates really have behaved the way they did post-revelation? Does our government run on back room deals? Not too many flicks, books or news get as much airing in our family. For that, and that alone, I appreciated Mickey.