[.ca] The Rookie (Widescreen)

Amazon.ca:
Les studios Walt Disney ne sont pas seulement les plus gros fournisseurs mondiaux de dessins animés ; ils produisent aussi régulièrement des longs-métrages de fiction destinés à un public familial. The Rookie (La Recrue en version française), réalisé par John Lee Hancock et mettant en vedette Dennis Quaid, appartient à cette catégorie. Même si Jim Morris, la quarantaine bien tassée, a dû abandonner le baseball dans sa jeunesse à la suite d'une blessure, sa passion pour le sport est restée intacte. Ainsi, lorsque l'équipe d'amateurs qu'il entraîne le met au défi de tenter sa chance dans les ligues majeures, c'est son rêve d'enfant qu'il fera revivre, avec courage et détermination, tout en défiant les nombreux avis contraires. Inspiré d'un fait réel, The Rookie joue avec des ressorts dramatiques éprouvés maintes fois mais efficaces. De beaux sentiments habitent les personnages brossés à gros traits, et les valeurs traditionnelles de l'Amérique sont assénées avec la délicatesse d'un marteau piqueur, sans que le film ne perde ses qualités de divertissement grand public. C'est le rêve américain à la sauce Disney, forcément faite pour plaire à tout le monde. --Helen Faradji

great family movie from Disney (4.5/5):
this a great Disney flick.it is the story of an aging high school baseball coach(Dennis Quaid),who was once on his way to the big leagues as a pitcher,but suffered a career ending injury.but through series of events,Jimmy Morris(Quaid)gets a second chance.you can probably guess the rest.this is a great family film.it is inspirational,but doesn't pour it on too thick.it's fun and entertaining.adults will enjoy this movie as well as kids.it is based upon a true story,though i'm sure the filmmakers took some liberties in telling the story.Quaid is sensational as the title character,very convincing.if you're looking for a film the whole family can enjoy,look no further. 4.5/5

Good family film.:
I enjoyed this moview quite a bit. It had a nice cast, likeable characters, excellent music and a terrific story. The movie starts with his childhood just long enough to set the story and then we are re-introduced to the grown up Jimmy Morris (Dennis Quaid), his family and the high school baseball team he coaches. Its impossible not to like and root for him. On the negative side, it was a bit long and the other weakness is that it did not always convey Jimmy Morris' love of baseball when he undertakes his unlikely quest to the major leagues. While the movie shows his ambivalence in missing his family as he begins his second shot at the majors, it doesn't capture the positive aspect of a man chasing his dream quite enough. Still, it was a nice movie that I have seen a bunch of times.

Don't Miss This Movie!:
This is the kind of movie that comes around only once every ten years or so. This movie has so much going for it one could type for quite a long time. But I don't want to spoil the storyline for any potential buyers. I will just point out that if you are looking for a great - no, make that OUTSTANDING movie for the whole family, this is it. Dennis Quaid was made to play this role; and play it he did. If this movie doesn't touch your heart, you must not have one. If this movie does not inspire your passion, you must not have any. And last but not least, if you spend the money on this movie, you must be broke! :-) Peace-out! God Bless. Look for the ossuary! Nero's Guard is watching!

Best clean movie I've seen in years!!!!:
I happened to come across this movie on a Cable Channel a few weeks ago. Being a "Baseball Mom", I love to watch movies in the off season. This was such a fantastic, inspiring movie we just had to buy it. I think I have watched it now 4 times. Dennis Quaid was excellent in this part, and very believable as a Pitcher. I only wish that there were more movies like this one out there. Thanks to Mr. Morris for the story and Mr. Quaid for his exceptionl acting.

A great family film:
The Rookie is the real life story of Jim Morris, a science teacher who doubles as the coach of the high school baseball team. Football is the sport of choice in those parts of Texas, where he lived, so the baseball team has to play on a substandard field with second hand equipment. He used to be a minor league pitcher with potential, but had to quit due to numerous injuries and a fastball that just wasn't very fast, only in the mid 80 mile per hour range (below average for major league pitchers) However, when he starts pitching batting practice for his team, he somehow has the ability to throw in the mid to upper 90 mile per hour range. He has no idea, of course that the pitches are so fast. He tells the kids that they are not really that fast and that it just seems faster. The players on the team get used to batting practice against major league fastballs and as a result are able to hit high school pitching easily. Success has not come easily to this bunch, and after a particularly tough loss, he rallies the team to tell them they can do whatever they want if they only dare to dream. They respond that he should do the same--that he should try out for a major league team. He makes a deal with them. If they win the district championship, he will find an open tryout with some team and show what he can do. They win, of course, and he goes for the tryout. This starts a chain of events which eventually leads him to a pitcher's mound in Arlington, Tx and a major league game against the Rangers. What makes the movie so great is the warmth of the characters and the story. The story is wonderful, especially because it's basically 100% true. But Dennis Quaid is great as Jim Morris. He is believable as a small town teacher who realizes just how lucky he is. Rachel Griffiths does very well as his wife who has to support him through the low times on the way up the ladder. The DVD is a nice package. There are some very good deleted scenes which really round out the story nicely and a 20 minute documentary piece featuring the real Jim Morris who shows exactly what happened when he made his debut on that September night. Finally, because this is a G rated movie, it will be a favorite among all members of the family. It is just one of those stories which comes around every few decades. You don't have to be a sports fan to love the story of the underdog coming out on top. Jim Morris is the ultimate underdog. Great movie!