Major League (1989)

By Vince Man
October 7, 2006

Wild thing you make my heart sing.

In all honesty, from what I experienced, that sentiment may not be too far from the truth. It is pretty accurate to say that teenagers constantly think about sex, and with the need to act upon thoughts, a lot is learned.

The uproarious cast of Major League reaches back and delivers a screwball of a film. Most notably, the wacky baseball players played by Charlie Sheen and Wesley Snipes - though at the opposite ends of the personality spectrum - deliver MVP-caliber laughs. Sheen plays Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn, a ticking-time bomb of a flame thrower from the depths of the California Penal League, and Snipes plays Willie Mays Hayes, a flashy base-stealer with even flashier suits.

Though an ex-con, Wild Thing is a likeable character. In fact, aside from his '80s bad boy haircut, skull embossed spectacles and occasional blowup, he's not that intimidating. The pitcher clearly shows talent with a live arm, but struggles to harness the heat. In a scene where he is pitching alone in the bullpen against a wooden cutout of a batter, the caricature becomes indented from head to toe before eventually succumbing to decapitation with one last high heater. Not a man of many words, Wild Thing looks around to see if anyone has witnessed his latest crime.

You make everything…groovy.

Wild Thing doesn't utter many words, but his fellow rookie ball player, Mays Hayes, talks almost as fast as he runs. The leadoff hitter claims that he hits like Mays and runs like Hayes, and though those things can be disputed, what's not disputed is that you need sunglasses to check out his off-field attire. Even funnier than his choice of apparel is his charismatic nature, lending himself to diving into home plate wearing a tuxedo, accompanied with a grin from ear to ear. It's sad that we don't see more of Snipes in comedies because he is always able to provide a number of laughs (White Men Can't Jump, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar).

So why are goofs of men playing for a big league club in the Tribe? Team owner, Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton) wishes to move the organization to Miami after inheriting the club from her late hubby. In order to do so, the team must turnout a season attendance lower than the IQ of a New York Yankees fan (cheap shot), which the owner thinks a terrible team will help seal the deal. What she wasn't counting on was that the loosely assembled squad would show enough heart to spite her.

Wild thing, I think I love you.

Okay, so this is the most predictable movie in all of history and the next 73 years, but to see the team go from a cellar dweller to a contender is fun to watch. Led by captain Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) each Indian has something to prove and to play for. For Taylor, playing for the Indians a second time around gives him one last shot at proving he's good for something and a success to his long-time love, Lynn Wells (Rene Russo).

Along with the predictability of a Cinderella story, are hardships along the way. Hardships for these Indians come in the form of a religious battle between Christianity, backed by the team's veteran pitcher, and Voodoo, practiced by the team's slugger. This hardship coincides with the film's comedic genius. The power-hitter, Pedro Cerrano, praises Jobu for his success and performs the craziest of rituals. A chicken is to be sacrificed for Jobu who is eerily reminiscent of a young Michael Jackson in doll form. Little Michael give good luck. Curse bad guy.

Entertainment 7.5/10

Major League is definitely a fun movie, no baseball knowledge required. It's universal when sad saps go from nothing to something. To put it simply, that's what this movie is about, but it manages to throw enough laughs out there and hitting one out of the park. From Wild Thing's tattered sleeveless shirt and tie getup to Mays Hayes' batter's box hip swivel à la Elvis, this movie constantly lines drives the jokes at you.

Bob Uecker is equally as funny with his offbeat remarks as the radio voice of the Indians, Harry Doyle. His sarcastic style of calling the game leaves you puzzled and questioning if he's witnessing the same game as everyone else. At height of the team's dismal slump, he goes on a foul rant, but apologizes with, "Don't worry, nobody is listening anyway." Classic.

Innovation 5/10

The baseball flick is as innovative as the lyrics of a boy band, but similarly, it does the trick. What Major League has spawned however, are the cheap ripoffs of commentators in movies who are as bizarre and unprofessional as Harry Doyle. For this, I nominate Uecker as a living legend, for his followers can't touch him.

Emotional Resonance 7/10

You always feel for the little guys…especially when they face the mighty Yankees in the end. Still, there is a lot of you in each of those ball players, whether it is Wild Thing, Mays Hayes or Voodoo dude Cerrano. They are good hearted characters and that's why you root for them to come out on top.

The main subplot lies in Taylor winning back the love of his life. Take him back! He'll never cheat on you with a hotter woman when he's on a road trip. Honest!

Social Context 6.5/10

Read above. Work hard, be a team player, yada yada yada.

Recall 7/10

It's October. The playoffs for Major League Baseball are upon us, so to get in the mood, call for Major League from the bullpen. Among the famous baseball nicknames like Bambino, The Big Unit, Shoeless Joe and the Hammer, you'll find yourself singing Wild Thing.

Overall 66%

Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Director: David S. Ward
Producers: Chris Chesser and Irby Smith
Executive Producer: Mark Rosenberg
Screenplay: David S. Ward
Director of Photography: Reynaldo Villalobos
Editor: Dennis M. Hill
Music: James Newton Howard