Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mostly family-friendly sports flick dabbles in stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Home Run Showdown
What's the Story?
12-year-old Lorenzo (Kyle Thomas) wants to make the Little League team in the hopes he'll end up at the big showdown finale, a televised event his dad can watch from prison. Meanwhile, two brothers Joey (Matthew Lillard) and Rico (Dean Cain) who struck out in the minor leagues get a chance at redemption when they coach competing Little League teams. The trouble is, everyone needs to learn a thing or two about fair play. Will they figure it out in time to make it to the big showdown?
Is It Any Good?
HOME RUN SHOWDOWN traffics in the familiar sports-as-redemption territory, but some nice touches give it a modern twist. It focuses on inter-generational relationships, pitting the kids-today-raised-on-video-games against adults struggling with their own dashed dreams and petty differences.
Unfortunately, it dabbles a little in classic stereotypes about girls being less skilled at sports or automatically being lesbians. Were it not for some nice touches -- a little diversity here, a kid with a speech impediment who plays a broadcaster, but isn't mocked for it -- it would be more problematic. Parents will enjoy some of the good cross-generational jokes, and there are some nice performances. Kids who like sports will love the ins and outs of the slog to the title, and of course, watching adults have to own up to their own flaws.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the stereotyping in the film about girls as inferior to boys when it comes to sports, and the use of homophobic slurs to insult peers. Can you think of any female athletes? How are they portrayed in the media? How do stereotypes and slurs hurt people?
In the film, some of the kids bully each other to intimidate them and weaken their resolve to win more games. Does this work in real life? What are the consequences of bullying? Have you ever been bullied? How did you feel? How did you deal with it?
Baseball has long been portrayed as a valuable source of life lessons. Do you play sports? What lessons have you learned from participating in group activities?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 21, 2012
- Cast : Annabeth Gish , Dean Cain , Matthew Lillard
- Director : Oz Scott
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Image Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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