The DVD Review

THE ROOKIE 
Buena Vista Home Entertainment.  Available to buy now.

A heartwarming story of never giving up on your dreams The Rookie stars Dennis Quaid as the oldest baseballer in town. Quaid plays Jim Morris, a high school chemistry teacher, family man and coach of the school baseball team, The Big Lake Owls. Morris, some 12 years before, had had to give up the chance of a pro baseball career after a shoulder injury. To try and motivate his lacklustre team Jim bets them that if they can win the district championship he will try out for the major leagues, of course being a family movie his team soon finds themselves beating all comers and Jim is soon on the verge of the major league, thanks to his 98mph fastball.

Definitely a feel good movie, with a fine script from Mike “Finding Forrester” Rich, the Rookie marks a return to form for Quaid and with a cast that also includes Rachel Griffiths as Jim’s wife Lorri and the always excellent Brian Cox you know the movie is on sold ground.

The extras package includes a batch of deleted scenes with an introduction from director John Lee Hancock as well as an audio commentary from Hancock and Quaid. There is also a featurette on the inspiration for the movie.