Customer Reviews
"Rookie of the year" entertaining 
2008-05-31
I purchased this DVD after re-viewing it on a TV where I work out. This film was essentially unknown to the kids I showed it to (5th graders)since they hadn't been born yet. It was an enjoyable film with lots of humor, and the kids really liked it.
I love Baseball 2007-11-26
Henry gets to pitch for Chicgo Cubs, he hurt his arm and he is like a powerhouse! Great for any baseball fan movie.
Rookie of the Year 
2007-08-29
Great family fun! Funny movie, satires baseball cliches. Likeable characters and good ending.
great movie 2007-06-14
This is a great movie for kids and adults
Terrific Coming-Of-Age Baseball Fantasy. Excellent For Family Viewing. Performances Are Top-Notch. Score Is Rousing. 2007-05-29
This adorable baseball fantasy is a home run with families. Thomas Ian Nichols (before he went on to racy roles, a la the "American Pie" movies) is a treat to watch as [...] Henry Rowengartner, an average kid who becomes a phenom pitcher for the Chicago Cubs after a freak accident. Gary Busey ("Lethal Weapon," "Under Siege") does a fine job as the washed-up pitcher who takes Henry under his wing. Daniel Stern (who also directed) is a riot. Rated PG for some thematic elements and brief language.
For all baseball fans 2007-01-10
When the cast is removed from his severely broken arm, clumsy 12-year old Henry Rowengartner (Thomas Ian Nicholas) is shocked to find his arm has become a 100 mile per-hour thunderbolt. His throw from the bleachers directly to home plate alerts the last place Chicago Cubs and before you can shout "play ball!" he is signed as their new ace pitcher. With a few pointers from an aging star pitcher (Gary Busey) young Henry actually manages to pull of the impossible.
Hard to Find 2006-11-28
Why is this movie so hard to find on DVD? It is one of my absolute fav's from when I was a kid. I still find myself saying some of the cheeseball lines from this flick. I love all the different names the coach gives Henry, hey Ravenbooser! hey Gardenhoser! Great stuff.
negative 10 stars 
2006-08-20
This movie had horrible acting all the way through it...If I had a copy of this dvd i would use it as a door stop not to watch it...it's a horrible movie and should be thrown out of movie history
A Teriffic Baseball Movie 2006-08-06
Being a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, I was immediately drawn to this movie. Us true fans could only hope for a real-life Henry Rowengartner to salvage our continuing seasons of near misses and shattered dreams.
In the movie itself, Thomas Ian Nicholas stars as Henry Rowengartner, a young 12-year-old boy who does many of the things normal 12-year-olds do: Playing little league baseball, building boats, and dreaming of pretty girls. Unfortunately for Henry, his baseball career isn't going so well. A fly ball hits him in the head, and then he throws the ball over the right field fence. To make matters worse, the next day, he trips over an unseen baseball while trying to make a catch and damages his arm. But unknown to Henry, his life is about to change forever.
Henry's mom (Amy Morton) and her scheming boyfriend Jack (Bruce Altman) take Henry to the emergency room and he is put in a cast, but when the cast comes off, Henry discovers that he can throw a baseball 100 miles per hour. He throws a home run ball all the way from center field to home plate on the fly. Jack, seeing a chance to cash in on Henry's golden arm, calls Sal Martinella (Albert Hall), the manager of the Chicago Cubs. Soon, Henry has a tryout with the Cubs, is signed to a contract, and begins playing for his hometown team. Also on the Cubs is Chet "Rocket" Steadman (Gary Busey) an aging star who has lost most of the zip on his fastball. Chet is given the job of mentoring Henry while he develops.
After a while, Henry develops into a pretty good pitcher, blowing his fastball by most opposing hitters. Due to the arrival of Henry, the Cubs fortunes begin to change and they soon find themselves in position to win their division. However, Jack continues his scheming ways, and he tries to orchestrate a trade to New York. However, the deal is nixed by the owner of the Cubs.
After a somewhat rocky start, Henry and Chet have become true friends, and Chet has taught Henry a lot about pitching and the game in general. Henry seems to think that Chet would be someone good for his mother, too. The season continues along, and the Cubs find themselves in need of one more win to win their division. Chet, having been told that he will be released next season, begins the game for the Cubs and pitches well early on, but he develops shoulder problems later in the game. Henry is brought in to take over for Chet and is his usual unhittable self, but late in the game, he once again falls over the baseball, this time reversing the power in his arm. He can no longer throw 100 mph. What will Henry and the Cubs do? Will they win the game and go to the world series, or will they do what most Cubs teams do: choke?
I'm a huge fan of baseball movies, and I'm also a big-time Cubs fan, so this movie was even more fun for me to watch. The acting is very good. Gary Busey does a great job as Chet, and the late John Candy is very funny as the Cubs announcer. I can relate so much to this movie as a Cubs fan; seeing them come so close and then ultimately choking in the end (a la 2003). It was fun to finally see them win for a change.
I give this movie my highest recommendation. Baseball fans will surely enjoy it, especially Cubs fans. Now if we could only get Mark Prior to pitch like Henry Rowengartner...
Fantastic Movie 2006-03-15
I like love this movie because I love baseball. I like all sports movies because I am a huge sports fan
