Common Sense Note
Some indirect sex talk and mild profanity make the movie somewhat questionable for younger kids, but tweens will like the spirit of camaraderie and the well-shot baseball games. The players model impressive team spirit while the movie tells the little-known true tale of women's wartime baseball.
Families can talk about women's role (or lack thereof) in most professional sports. Do you think women could compete equally on men's teams? Why or why not?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Ellen MacKay
There are few things as enjoyable as a good baseball movie; everyone loves the story of teamwork and triumph that lies at the heart of America's favorite game. But this movie one-ups that formula by focusing on the exceptional circumstances surrounding the All-American Girls League.
Not only do we get the scoop on the skills and friendships that develop among the Peaches, we also get a sense of the unique difficulties for a women's league in the midst of pre-feminist America. While there are many funny moments, such as the mocking spectator who gets nailed by an errant pitch, these women suffer for being athletes at a time when women were supposed to look pretty and bake cakes. And just when they achieve success on the playing field, the war ends, and they're abruptly abandoned by management and fans alike.
A 13-year-old viewer and her 11-year-old brother were both captivated by this movie, although they lost interest during the maudlin epilogue that's set forty years later, when the A.A.G.P.B.L. is finally recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame. The two children were most taken by the Peaches themselves, who range from an outspoken former bouncer (Rosie O'Donnell) to a sultry taxi-dancer (Madonna).
They were also charmed by Tom Hanks' hilarious performance as Jimmy Dugan, a washed-up former baseball star who initially doesn't relish being the Peaches' team manager; this is some of the richest character work Hanks has done to date.
If baseball is your game, check out Field of Dreams. If you want to see Tom Hanks in another Penny Marshall movie, look for the hilarious Big.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentMen admire the girls in their skimpy uniforms. "All the Way Mae" pursues dates and exploits her feminine charms. |
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ViolenceThe war's effect on the home front leads to some tense moments. |
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LanguageJimmy Dugan can be crass, but the profanity is generally mild. |
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Social BehaviorThe league isn't integrated, and in one scene we see that there are women of color who would have been excellent ball players. A few sex-related jokes. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoJimmy Dugan is frequently drunk in the movie's beginning. |
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