Joey Magidson
There’s a purity to Little League that we rarely see on the big screen. Sure, we see it on television because the Little League World Series is televised. However, films don’t really show it as a sport. The sports movies that showcase it usually go for comedy. Now, something like The Bad News Bears is a classic because of the cinema, not the baseball. So, having You Gotta Believe use kids playing ball as a jump off for an inspirational story? It worked on me more than I expected it to, and not just because the title is a callback to a famous quote by New York Met Tug McGraw.
You Gotta Believe is the sort of harmless little family film that we used to get more of. While it occasionally walks the line of being faith based cinema, it’s not propaganda like the worst of that genre can be. Here, we have a touching drama with sports thrown in. It’s the kind of story we’ve seen done countless times before, but by doing it well enough, it hits home.
The film is based on the real-life 2002 Westside Little League All-Star team from Fort Worth, Texas. Jon Kelly (Greg Kinnear) coaches alongside his best friend Bobby Ratliff (Luke Wilson) a team that, to be generous, is not good. Their season is just about over, Jon is checked out, and their kids are ready to be done. Then, Jon is asked to coach said All-Star team, which turns out, due to indifference, to just be his team still. He initially declines, but then tragedy makes him re-evaluate.
When Bobby is diagnosed with cancer, it becomes a whole new ballgame. Now, their sons, as well as the team on the whole, is dedicating the season to Bobby. Of course, with Jon now re-engaged, having previously been doing paperwork in the dugout, the team turns things around. The fact that a movie is being made about this story tells you how far they get, but watching it happen is undeniably effective and affecting to witness.
The cast is solid, if unspectacular. Having strong actors like Greg Kinnear and Luke Wilson here helps a lot. Neither are doing the best work of their careers, but they take the pars seriously. Kinnear can do this part in his sleep, but he never sleepwalks through it, giving the emotions the weight they deserve. Wilson has trickier material to deal with, but handles it well. Having previously worked with the director on 12 Mighty Orphans doesn’t hurt, either. Supporting players include Sarah Gadon and Molly Parker as the supportive spouses, Patrick Renna, and more.
Director Ty Roberts and writer Lane Garrison don’t put a cynical moment into this flick. If 12 Mighty Orphans is a stronger overall work from Roberts, this does confirm that he’s a notable sports filmmaker, perhaps able to take up the mantle left by Ron Shelton years ago. You Gotta Believe runs a little long and it’s harder to care about the kids than the adults, but there’s an overall positive vibe that Garrison and Roberts infuse the work with that sees you through.
You Gotta Believe asks you to check your cynicism at the door. If you can do that, this is a good family flick for the end of the summer and the latter portion of the baseball season. We’ve gotten better films of this ilk, for sure, but we’ve gotten far worse as well. So, consider this a light endorsement of this movie, with a bit more weight if you’re a parent.
SCORE: ★★★
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