‘The Perfect Game’ is Charming
Captivating sports dramas take a ragtag group of misfits and show audiences that through ingenuity the underdogs can overcome adversity to attain victory. The Perfect Game retells the story of another band of young athletes that rises from rags to riches using this classic formula. This film builds on the pre-established archetype by blending various aspects of other movies in the genre to create something that is fun as well as charming.
The Perfect Game is about a Mexican baseball team that becomes the first non-U.S. based team to compete in the Little League World Series. These boys come from a poor village that only dreams of baseball like it is a distant fantasy. The pastor (Cheech Marin) of the local church listens to baseball games on the radio from the United States, which gains the interest of the local youth, who delight in learning about the magic past time. He mentors the boys and teaches them about famous players and statistics.
They develop an interest in forming a team, however, when the player Angel Matias discovers Cesar (Clifton Collins Jr.), a Mexican man who missed out on his shot to the major league because of racial discrimination. A reluctant coach at first, Cesar falls into the role quite naturally. Clifton Collins Jr. leads them carefully with the poise of a seasoned leader. He gives each boy a sort of tough love with his firm tone and with his obsession with physical fitness. In many ways Collins as the actor channels the legendary Herb Brooks, into his character. One of his catchphrases is “Again!”, is reminiscent of Brooks’ rabid desire to have his players skate more sprints.
Cheech Marin is perfect as the village priest in this film. With each boy he is patient and caring in a genuine capacity. In many ways his lax nature comes into direct conflict with Cesar’s rougher methods. Their presence together helps balance things and provide the boys with the best of both worlds. The child actors in the film do a fantastic job, even if once and a while their accents slip away. They show a wide depth of emotion in their acting which is rare for younger actors.
Overall The Perfect Game comes off as a mixture of The Mighty Ducks, The Bad News Bears, and Angels in the Outfield. While it does not tread into any new territory in the genre it’s a fun movie for families that provides a positive story about the Latin American community.