Little-known Little League gem: The Perfect Game

The best movie ever made about Little League is finally available on DVD. With exceptionally strong online reviews despite its limited theatrical run more than 15 months ago, “The Perfect Game” can best be described with the word “unlikely.”

As its title suggests, the film focuses on one of baseball’s rarest achievements –- a game in which no opponents reach base; and in this case, said event occurred 54 years ago in Williamsport, when an unseasoned Mexican team became the first non-Americans to win the Little League World Series.

Also in the "unlikely" vein:  One hardly expects exhilaration from yet another sports-underdog movie “based on a true story” -- this one with a very modest budget and no big stars, with the possible exception of one-time stoner Cheech Marin in the unlikely role of a cheery priest!

Yet despite weak production values and a plot we’ve seen before, “The Perfect Game” is thoroughly satisfying family entertainment; I was heartbroken to sit through the film all alone at Muncy's Great Escape in April 2010, knowing that a poor turnout at Little League’s home base did not bode well for the movie’s future. No wonder it took the thing so long to get to disc.

Clifton Collins Jr. strikes all the right notes as a former Cardinals towel-boy who returns to his Mexican home town, where he winds up coaching a hardscrabble team that is as determined and high-spirited as it is undersized and inexperienced.

As for Marin, I was prepared to see the former pot-puffer mail in his performance, but in fact it’s pitch-perfect -- a bracing blend of piety, kindness and sincerity.

The film never condescends –- not to religion, not to kids, not to Hispanics, not to ball fans, and not to blacks, whose experiences with the era’s discrimination lead them to rally round the much-mocked Mexicans.

Lou Gossett Jr. makes a sly cameo as Negro-league legend “Cool Papa” Bell, and the kids in the film are all terrific too -- highlighted by the irresistible Ryan Ochoa.

On the eve of a big game, Coach, having learned that Ochoa’s character is injured, intones, “You’re not gonna be able to play on that foot.”  With his blue eyes agleam, Ochoa responds, “Then I will play on the other one.”    

“Game” is loaded with this kind of catchy, plain-spoken dialog. At one point, a feisty female reporter tells Coach that if he wins he’ll be “as popular as a skunk at a lawn party.” Coach:  “I’d rather stink than lose.” Reporter:  “Maybe you could do both tomorrow.”

“Game” also has -- despite its predictability -- one very effective surprise involving a telegram. On top of everything else, I’m a sucker for Latin music of any kind –- and “Game’s” gorgeous score was penned by Bill Conti, who wrote the infectious “Rocky” theme.

This film had me the moment those guitars and trumpets chimed in during the opening credits –- not to mention the rollicking Dr. John version of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Because the movie’s budget precluded transporting the crew cross-country from Los Angeles, none of “Game” was actually filmed in North Central Pa. -- though some Williamsport locales show up in newsreel clips throughout the movie.
          
Yes, it’s got modest local appeal for folks in Lycoming County -- but it really deserves to be seen everywhere.

Please help spread the word about this neglected gem that really is in a (little) league of its own.

***1/2 (out of four)