The Sandlot (1993) PG - 3½ Stars

Here's a cute coming of age story from the 1960's. Awww, the good old days and heck maybe I'm showing my age but life sure was much simpler then as shown in this story of kids and baseball. Finally a good old fashion fun for any age as we watch the boys get into a pickle.

It's 1962 and Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) is the new kid on the block, just moving to the neighborhood, but he's finding it hard to make new friends. His new stepfather Bill (Dennis Leary) promises to show Scotty had to play ball but never seems to find the time. Scotty only has a plastic glove from the dime store but still goes to the Sandlot daily to watch the other boys play. He's determined to join their game even though he has no idea how he's going to get there. Most of the kids make fun of him but Benny Rodriguez (Mike Vitar), takes him under his wing and shows him how it's done. He even gives him an extra glove, teaches him how to not think about catching the ball but just have fun. Scotty's now able to hit and catch like the other boys.

The kids get together at every given chance just to have a game and Scotty makes the ninth player to complete the team. Benny comes up to bat and nails one over the fence never to be seen again. It's gone into mean old Mr. Mertle (James Earl Jones)'s junkyard and now is the property of his beast. Legend has it that the "beast" rips flesh from anyone who invades his territory. But the big problem is, the ball over the fence is Scotty's step dad's signed original ball from Babe Ruth. Who will have the courage to conquer the beast and get the ball?

20th Century Fox
Director: David Mickey Evans
Writers: Robert Gunter, David Mickey Evans
Producers: William S. Gilmore, Dale de la Torre

I viewed 4/08