Major League: Back to the Minors

Since this is the third sequel, in the “Major League” series, I had hoped for a more lively movie; but I was very disappointed. Having played baseball for so many years, I could not relate to the silly antics of these ballplayers; they were too inept, too uncoordinated, too stupid to even be in the minor leagues let alone in the AAA division. I realize that this movie is billed as a comedy, but at least the movie could have had some similitude of realism. My wife and daughter, on the other hand, loved the movie. I found them laughing several times throughout the show. They later told me that they would give it two thumbs up. Go figure.

“Major League: Back to the Minors” begins with Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen, “An American Affair” and TV’s “L.A. Law”), owner of the Minnesota Twins, offering a job to Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula, “Necessary Roughness” and TV’s “Quantum Leap”), a burned-out minor league pitcher who is ready to retire. Unbeknownst to Gus, Roger has a devious plan up his sleeve. He wants to use Gus' expertise and skills to shake up the Twins upper management and generate a lot of publicity by pitting the major league Twins with its minor league team (reminiscent of the now famous Red Sox-Paw Sox exhibition games).

As the new manager of the South Carolina Buzz, Gus is faced with the difficult task of transforming this team of misfits into real contenders. While trying to aid Billy “Downtown” Anderson (Walton Giggons, “Switchback”) into becoming a big league player, Gus has to deal with an effeminate ballet-dancing outfielder, a catcher with an uncanny way of hitting everything but the person he’s trying to throw the ball to, a scholarly pitcher (Peter MacKenzie, “Tom and Huck”) that any little-leaguer could hit off of, and a pair of identical twins who just happen to have the same first and last name.

Leonard Huff, the Twin’s low-down, sleazy manager (Ted McGinley, “Revenge of the Nerds” and TV’s “Married with Children”) takes notice of Gus' accomplishments. And the grudge match is on.

“Major League: Back to the Minors” has ball player language {profanity}. Over one dozen instances of obscenity, some profanity, and plenty of crude language. There is one scene where a man is seen in a modified athletic supporter and support cup, which leaves little to the imagination; but overall, the content is just a little more than one would see and hear on television. One extra note for movie buffs, the director actually uses over 100 professional athletes as extras. And sports fans will enjoy Bob Ueker’s role as Harry Dole, the local radio sportscaster.