The Kid from Left Field

The 1970s produced some fine made for television movies, but also a lot that have understandably been forgotten, including this one. It's a remake of the 1953 theatrical movie of the same name. I haven't seen the original, but I did a little research on it, and discovered that it ran a lean 80 minutes in length, while this remake is extended by almost 20 more minutes. This may explain why the first half of the movie feels very slow and padded out. Oddly, in the second half of the movie, it turns to feeling very rushed, with key plot details quickly glossed over. Though probably you want to most of all know about how the late Gary Coleman comes across. He gives off his standard kind of acting, coming across as a somewhat irritating precocious child. Oddly, however, his character for the most part comes across as a secondary character, with the supporting cast often taking the burden of carrying the movie from scene to scene. This is not the worst made for television movie I've seen, though even though I have not seen the original 1953 version, I feel pretty confident in saying that you should seek that version out instead of this weak remake.

The original Kid from Left Field.is an enjoyable but undistinguished movie. It certainly didn't cry out to be remade.

Nor is there anything in this remake that justifies it.

Some of the scenes simply repeat those in the first version. Others introduce a new but undeveloped plot line. In the first version, the boy. Christie, meets a woman who works in the Bisons' front office, which allows us to have a woman in this basically boy's story. In the new version, she is replaced by a white woman social worker, who is convinced that the boy's widowed father is not taking care of him well. Nothing is made of the fact that she is white and the boy and his father are black, which is a real let-down, as it could have allowed the movie to deal with a new theme that would have justified its existence.

Some of the minor characters are rewritten in an obnoxious way. Ed McMahon's team owner comes in a very poor second to Ray Collins'.

There is also a lot of soupy background music here, used to make already tear-jerkng scenes that much more lacrymose. Why they went for that I don't know. I found it objectionable.

As I said, the original, while enjoyable, is not a great movie. This version is longer by 20 minutes, and slower paced. Just nothing here to recommend it.

IT'S GARY COLEMAN!!

I am here with another review this time it's about Gary Coleman. And he's in another parental movie... Again... When will it end...

An unoriginal movie (based on the 1953 film.) that lacked dept. It was mainly about a devil trying to divide a child from his father. With some teeball. Most of the story did not have any steam and lacked production in terms of engagement.

This movie was ok. Not the great or good.

Arnold and Benson do a good job with what they had. It's just the movie is missing some flesh. It's barely emotional, that's about it. Even after they win, I didn't feel anything. Gary in the last 3 movies I've watched of him plays the neo or the special like genius character. The movie mentions it but they don't do anything with it.

The soundtrack is very 80s/70s. The acting is also very 80s.

I can't believe IMDB upped reviews to 600, yet they do not have a feature to make reviews private.