The Perfect Game

Director William Dear's overly sentimental tribute to the first foreign team ever to win the Little League World Series is so predictable it's funny. There's nothing unexpected in the entire film, and unfortunately, neither the actors nor the director could seem to agree whether to pronounce Mexican names in Spanish or some form of exaggeratedly accented English. But despite its considerable corniness, it's nearly impossible not to get sucked into the sugary-sweet underdog story. The adorable Catholic boys are irresistible in their belief that God has provided not only a real baseball but a former major-league "coach" to lead them to greatness. They even insist on having the108th Psalm recited prior to every game in honor of a baseball's 108 stitches. If you've just rolled your eyes, then you're not the intended audience for this afterschool-special-like tale.

At first it seemed laughable that Marin, who spent his early career as half of the pot-loving comedy duo Cheech & Chong, would play a believable priest, but as the movie continued, his character was actually gentle and patient and not played (completely) for laughs. Collins, an underrated character actor who's often pigeon-holed in Hispanic gangster or cop roles, displays a good rapport with the kids, many of whom are charming veteran actors like Austin (Wizards of Waverly Place), Arias (Hannah Montana) and Panettiere (Hayden's little bro). A subplot featuring Emilie de Ravin as a newspaper reporter reluctantly assigned to cover the Industrials on their undefeated journey is underdeveloped, whereas an African-American groundskeeper (Louis Gossett Jr.) who helps the boys decipher their opposing pitcher's hand signals would've been welcome in more scenes.Perfect Game is not Rudy, but it is an educational and inspiring little sports flick.