Review - Angels in the Outfield (1994)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and with baseball season in full swing (as of the writing of this review), I thought it would be neat to take a look at one of my favorite baseball movies growing up: Disney's Angels in the Outfield. 

        Released in 1994, this movie centers on Roger, a pre-teen in Anaheim, California, who was taken away from his father by the court, and all of this after his mother passed away. Currently living in a short-term foster home run by Maggie Nelson, Roger spends his free time riding his bicycle around Anaheim Stadium, home of his favorite baseball team the California Angels (currently the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), with his best friend and bunkmate at the foster home JP. One afternoon, Roger and JP return from a ride and Maggie tells Roger he has a visitor. Heading into the house, Roger sees his father waiting for him. Roger's father has come to tell Roger he's heading up North to finalize some release forms in court. Before departing on his motorcycle, Roger asks his father when they'll be a family again, to which his father sarcastically replies "I'd say when the Angels win the pennant." 

         Later that day, Roger and JP have snuck into the ballpark to watch a ballgame in a tree, using a mix of binoculars to watch from afar, and a portable radio to listen to the play-by-play. Unfortunately, the Angels are losing big time to the Toronto Blue Jays, and Angels manager George Knox goes to pull pitcher Frank Gates out of the game, despite it being the outfielders screw up. Gates tosses his ball and glove into the stands, leading to Knox kicking the crap outta the guy, with the rest of the team trying to break up the fight. Knox gets tossed out of the game, and Roger and JP get caught in the tree. 

        After the game, Knox vents his frustrations with the team always losing, and later meets with Angels owner Hank Murphy to get all twenty-five traded, which is impossible. Murphy reminds Knox that no one expects him to win big in Anaheim. From the field, Knox gets called down to the field by his new aide David, who leads him to meet with Angels radio commentator Ranch Wilder for a post-game interview. The interview gets heated, resulting in Knox slugging Wilder in the face. That night, Maggie tells Miguel, another boy staying at the foster home, that he has an interview and will have to miss the next day's Angels game. After dinner, Roger prays to God that he wants a family, which his father said will only happen if the Angels win the pennant, and Roger hopes God can help the team win games. 

       The next morning, Knox is brought to Murphy, who informs him that he's being fined for attacking Gates the day before, in addition to separate charges being filed by Wilder for Knox decking him. It's here where we learn that Knox and Wilder were once rivals when they played baseball, and Wilder slid into Knox with the nails of his cleats aimed at Knox's knees, ending Knox's baseball career. Murphy reminds Knox to control his temper during the day's game, which is against the Blue Jays once more. Pitching in this game is Whit Bass, who is definitely a character in and of himself, and is arguably one of my favorite characters in the movie. The game goes on with no score, and as the Blue Jays hit the ball too far for outfielder Ben Williams to catch it, Roger spots something strange. Two figures drop out of the sky, pick up Williams, and allow him to make a miraculous catch. Later, Angels catcher Triscuitt Messmer is aided by another figure, causing his bat to shatter as he smacks a home run in the ninth inning, winning the Angels the game. 

       But, who are these heavenly figures helping the Angels? Well, it's revealed to Roger that they're angels. I mean, REAL angels, actually brought from Heaven to help the baseball team the Angels to win. Watching over them as they do their job is Al, another Angel who nabs an AL hat from a nearby Umpire. And because Roger prayed for help from above, only he can see Al and the other Angels. After a photo op with Knox, Roger mentions the Angels to him, as well as JP, which leads Knox to ask Williams and Messmer about what happened during the game. Some time later, Knox heads to the foster home, meeting Maggie, and delivering the pictures to Roger, asking if Roger wants to come to the next game in a set of seats by the dugout. Roger, along with JP, heads to the Angels' next game, against the Oakland Athletics, and sees an Angel giving infielder Danny Hemmerling a shoulder massage, suggesting that Hemmerling should be brought in to pinch hit for Ray Mitchell. Knox is against the idea, as Mitchell is the best hitter, and Hemmerling is the worst hitter. However, after taking Roger's suggestion, much to the chagrin of Mitchell and the ire of the crowd, an angel does, indeed, show up to slow the pitch down for Hemmerling to hit a grounder, which goes all over the place. I mean, it's slipping and sliding everywhere, and the A's are knocking themselves over trying to get the ball. Hemmerling makes it to home plate, scoring the run and winning the game. 

         At the next game, Roger sees an Angel standing with Mel Clark, a veteran pitcher who lost his arm years before. Knox is almost adamant about not letting Mel pitch, but agrees to do so anyway, switching him in for the previously announced pitcher. After a rough warm up, the game starts and Mel gets help from an angel with his pitching. With the angel's help, Mel pitches a shut out victory for the Angels, which is fantastic. After we see Knox pitching a little game for Roger, JP, and the kids in their neighborhood, we get a montage of the Angels winning, Al influencing Knox to chill, Al moving a foul post to make the ball fair, and ultimately the Angels making first place in their division. This all leads to a two-game showdown for the pennant against the Chicago White Sox. Unfortunately, Roger is unable to attend, as he has to attend a hearing the same time as the game, thus only JP is able to attend. 

         In court, Roger's father ultimately relinquishes custody and parental rights to Roger, feeling it's what's best for him. At the game, the angels fail to appear, and the Angels lose for the first time since they started winning. Upset, JP accidentally spills the beans about Roger and the angels to Wilder, and how Knox's decisions have been based on advice from Roger. Back at the foster home, Knox tries to give some encouragement and life lessons to Roger, and ultimately works with Roger and JP to make a big meat loaf dinner. Some time later, Wilder leaks the whole story of Roger, the angels, and Knox to the press, forcing Roger to come clean to Maggie, as well as Murphy attempting to relieve Knox of his responsibilities as manager of the Angels. However, at a press conference, Maggie, Roger, JP, and the team stand behind Knox, leading him to remain manager of the team. 

       So, it's the final game between the Angels and the White Sox, and things go pretty well. Williams makes some spectacular catches, Mitchell smacks one out of the park, and a mix of great pitching and solid defense keeps the White Sox at bay and the Angels leading the game. However, Al arrives and reveals that no angels are coming to help due to a rule that championships must be won without assistance. Al's reason for being there is to check on Mel, who is soon going to be joining Al and the angels. Al then reminds Roger to take care of himself, and remarks "Even though you can't see us, we're always watching." 

         Unfortunately, Mel Clark is growing more and more exhausted, and ultimately Knox looks to bring in a relief pitcher. However, despite knowing no angels are coming, Roger and Knox come up with an idea. While on the mound with two outs, a full count, and the bases loaded at the top of the ninth inning, Knox points out Roger making the signal of the angels: flapping his arms like angel wings. Eventually, JP and the team in the dugout join in, as do the team on the field, and the fans in the stands. Heck, even Hank Murphy and everyone in his luxury box, as well as Ranch's broadcast partner Wally, gets in on it. David, Knox's aide, also joins in, which is amazing. Mel, finally confident to throw one last pitch, throws one final pitch to the White Sox batter, Kit "Hit or Die" Kesey, who hits it straight towards Mel. Mel catches it, ending the game and winning the pennant for the Angels. As the team, Knox, Roger, and JP celebrate, Mel notes that there really are angels, with Knox replying by saying "Not this time, Mel. You did it yourself." 

         Returning to the house, Roger and JP tell Maggie how the Angels won, which Maggie saw on television. Maggie also tells Roger his social worker called in regards for a permanent home for him, upsetting JP. Alone, Knox reveals that HE called social services to see about adopting Roger as his son. As happy as this makes Roger, he remarks how he can't leave JP behind. Knox adds on "I can never leave JP. He's coming too." This news makes both Roger and JP very happy, as Roger has a new family, and JP has a new dad. Al reveals himself to JP, and flies off, leaving a halo around the house and saying to the audience "We're always watching." 

          I absolutely loved this movie as a kid. To be honest, it's the movie that helped give me my love of baseball. And I thoroughly enjoyed all of the moments between the actors playing the ballplayers in the movie, which were all manner of fun throughout. And what's really neat is that the team is comprised of a mix of actors who were famous, as well as actors who had yet to really hit that level of being top tier actors yet. 

           Speaking of which, let's talk about the cast. Danny Glover was excellent as George Knox, balancing being angry and also having more soft moments with Roger and JP. And both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Milton Davis Jr. were great as Roger and JP, and it's amazing how I knew Joseph Gordon-Levitt from his role in this movie, and now seeing him as an adult with his more modern movie roles is incredible. Jay O. Sanders is delightfully heinous as Ranch Wilder, and is definitely easy to hate. And Christopher Lloyd, who I saw in this movie well bed I ever saw the Back to the Future series, was delightful as Al the boss angel. 

        As for the ballplayers, Tony Danza as Mel Clark, Neal McDonough as Whit Bass, Stoney Jackson as Ray Mitchell, Adrien Brody as Danny Hemmerling, Matthew McConaughey as Ben Williams, and Israel Juarbe as Jose Martinez are easily my favorites. Now, what's really fun is several facts I learned about the making of the movie from actor Neal McDonough, who has regarded Whit Bass as one of his favorite characters from throughout his acting career. 

          Now, despite the movie being set in Anaheim, the ballpark scenes were actually filmed at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. And, it's absolutely amazing getting to look back at this movie and see the Oakland Hills, as well as what the Coliseum looked like BEFORE Mount Davis was built. The rest of the sets and locations are nice, but it's really the ballpark scenes that mean the most to me, personally. 

          Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie as a kid, and I still appreciate it for the nostalgia to this day. Is it a perfect movie? No, it definitely has flaws, like with the overall look of the angels being too ethereal and not ethereal enough, which is weird. Anyway, I'm giving Angels in the Outfield a rating of 4.45/5. Now, what's a lot of fun it that the satirical YouTube channel CollegeHumor produced a parody of ESPN's 30 for 30, portraying the events of this movie, a work of fiction, as the 1994 California Angels baseball season, and had both Milton Davis Jr. and Neal McDonough reprise their respective roles from the movie as JP and Whit Bass. Definitely check out the 30 for 30 sketch on CollegeHumor, it's a lot of fun. 

        Alrighty guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll be back on Wednesday for my review of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always.