A League of Their Own

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Terrific tweens-and-up story of women's baseball.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that 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.

  • The 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.
  • The war's effect on the home front leads to some tense moments.
  • Men admire the girls in their skimpy uniforms. "All the Way Mae" pursues dates and exploits her feminine charms.
  • Jimmy Dugan can be crass. All typical swear words minus the "f" word, but not used liberally. Some taunts with body parts mentioned.
  • Not applicable.
  • Jimmy Dugan is frequently drunk in the movie's beginning.

What's the story?

Set in the 1940s, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN focuses on the exceptional circumstances surrounding the All-American Girls League. Like most baseball movies, the film follows the skills and friendships that develop among the Peaches, but in this case viewers also learn of the unique difficulties for a women's league in the midst of pre-feminist America. With guidance from their somewhat unstable and reluctant manager (Tom Hanks), Dottie (Geena Davis), Kit (Lori Petty), Doris (Rosie O'Donnell), Mae (Madonna), Marla (Megan Cavanagh) and the rest of the team face tough training sessions, mocking spectators, and other challenges as they try to win fans and beat opposing teams 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, the male baseball players return home to the U.S., and the Peaches are abruptly abandoned by management and fans alike.


Is it any good?

 

Everyone loves a good story about the teamwork and triumph that lies at the heart of America's favorite game, and this film adds the twist of women struggling to prove themselves as athletes in the 1940s. There are many funny and poignant moments, and the Peaches are an interesting bunch from various backgrounds (including Rosie O'Donnell as an outspoken former bouncer and Madonna as a sultry taxi-dancer). Tom Hanks is hilarious as manager Jimmy Dugan, and this is some of the richest character work he's done to date.

Tweens will probably enjoy this movie, though they may lose 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.


What families can talk about

  • 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?

  • In order to keep the game popular with fans, the players flaunted their femininity. Do you think this was all in good fun, a sign of the times, or somewhat demeaning to great athletes? 


This review was written by Ellen MacKay
Kid, 12 years old
April 14, 2010
 
A League of their own.
A League of their own is a must see. At the beginning, it's slow but later in the movie it's really good.

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Kid, 13 years old
July 24, 2009
 
good movie
I saw this movie when I was 8 years old this aint that bad its a great movie! they should put less swearing.

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Great Movie! Must See
This is my favorite movie!! I love it. I think its great for any age. i watched it the first time at aage 8 and loved it, so i recommend sharing it with your children.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
A nice little film about a womens baseball league
I enjoyed this film. It was quirky and cute, yet daring. Early Hanks is great with good supporting cast. I thought I was going to dislike it since these type of movies are "Not my thing", but I was suprised. Great family film to watch with the kids on a Sunday evening.

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Parent of 10 year old
June 13, 2011
 
A Baseball Classic
So few baseball movies of interest and appropriate for the tweens. This one was LOVED by my 10-year-old son who found the humor, message, and baseball plays all entertaining. He was remembering things to me the following day -- something he's never done before. You'll need to deal with the drunk of a manager, but even he redeems himself in the end. Language was nothing more that a bit crude, but certainly funny and memorable for the 10+ boy.

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Kid, 11 years old
July 14, 2010
 
A Classic Comedy
When my mom showed me this movie, I didn't think I was gonna like it. But when I actually WATCHED it, I was rolling on the ground laughing, I think I scared my dog! It was SOOOO funny! My favorite part was when the fat kid covered the bus driver's eyes. i regret doubting it.

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Parent of 15 year old
July 7, 2009
 
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN is a funny, inspiring movie that has perfect acting and a perfect script. It would be an excellent choice for family movie night. There is some language: several uses of "d**n" and "h**l", and one "b***h". A man calls another a "penis with a hat". There's some mild sexual innuendo: "All-the-way" Mae exerts her feminine charms on men. She teaches another girl to read using a presumably sexually explicit novel, and, when she goes out on a date, a woman asks her where she got her dress. Her response: "It doesn't really matter, I'm not planning on wearing it very long". When she goes in to confession, the priest "drops his Bible twice" from inside the confessional. She suggests that having a "wardrobe malfunction" may attract publicity to the league, but the suggestion is met with negative response. One man is disrespectful and a drunk, but most characters are kind, determined, and good role models for kids.

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April 9, 2008
 
great movie
This is a great movie to watch! I love this movie especially because I love baseball. Tom Hanks was great. Everbody 10 and up should see this movie. The language wasn't too bad. A character was drunk in the beginning of the movie. Good Movie!!!

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Kid, 13 years old
September 29, 2010
 
I loved this movie. some parts are inapropriat but in most part it teaches you a great lesson. than if you go for something and try to acheive it then chances are you will.

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This review was written by Ellen MacKay
Topics:sports and martial arts, book characters, history, misfits and underdogs
Studio:Columbia Tristar
Director:Penny Marshall
Cast:Geena Davis, Madonna, Tom Hanks
Genre:Drama
Run time:124 minutes
Theatrical release date:July 1, 1992
DVD release date:June 4, 2002
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:some mild profanity

This review was written by Ellen MacKay
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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