I remember watching the original film starring Walter Matthau and Tatum O'Neal at my neighborhood movie theater back in 1976. It was a fun roller coaster ride, and it definitely goes down as one of my favorite films growing up.
Matthau and O'Neal passed on this sequel and in a way, it turned out to be a blessing because this sequel opened the door for Jackie Earl Haley to show us his acting ability. While the sequel lacks the depth and compelling dramatic narrative of the original, it's still fun to watch
While on the surface the film may seem like a story about the Bear's continuing adventures on the baseball diamond, the most compelling facet of the movie involves the subplot centering on Kelly Leak's reunion with his Dad--played by Wiiliam Devane. Both Devane and Haley really shine in their roles and provide some much needed substance to the light-hearted antics which prevail throughout most of the film.
I've always liked William Devane's work, and his long and varied filmography as a character actor is a testament to his quality. While his performance is more restrained than Walter Matthaus's was in the original, it is still more than worthy as he ably plays a man trying to come to terms with past mistakes. However, it is Jackie Earle Haley's poignant performance which is the movie's biggest revelation. His transformation from budding juvenile delinquent to a three-dimensional character yearning to reconnect with his long lost father is the movie's greatest accomplishment. It gives the movie a moral weight which keeps it from degenerating into a 'campy' farce. As you watch his performance unfold, you'll definitely catch a glimpse of the talent that ultimately earned Haley an Oscar nomination many years later for a different film.
The movie has a special meaning for me as it was set in my hometown of Houston, Tx. Watching the movie now stirs-up a wave of childhood memories. It serves as a visual time capsule of what the city was like in the mid-seventies. Newer generations may find it quaint and a little humorous over how awe-stricken the characters were at the mere thought of playing in the Astrodome. Even for those of us who lived through that period in history, it's hard to wrap your head around the fact of how the Astrodome used to be the only 'domed' stadium in existence, but in 1976(when the movie was actually filmed), it was still universally acknowledged as being the '8th Wonder of the World'. How time flies!
The film's plot borrows heavily from it's successful predecessor with a mostly familiar cast of actors ably reprising their roles, and to be honest, the movie offers very little in the way of surprises and was obviously made on the heels of the original to capitalize on its commercial success. The ending was certainly predictable, but I still highly recommend this film for those who enjoyed the original because there are still enough laughs and good performances to carry you all the way through the end.
Matthau and O'Neal passed on this sequel and in a way, it turned out to be a blessing because this sequel opened the door for Jackie Earl Haley to show us his acting ability. While the sequel lacks the depth and compelling dramatic narrative of the original, it's still fun to watch
While on the surface the film may seem like a story about the Bear's continuing adventures on the baseball diamond, the most compelling facet of the movie involves the subplot centering on Kelly Leak's reunion with his Dad--played by Wiiliam Devane. Both Devane and Haley really shine in their roles and provide some much needed substance to the light-hearted antics which prevail throughout most of the film.
I've always liked William Devane's work, and his long and varied filmography as a character actor is a testament to his quality. While his performance is more restrained than Walter Matthaus's was in the original, it is still more than worthy as he ably plays a man trying to come to terms with past mistakes. However, it is Jackie Earle Haley's poignant performance which is the movie's biggest revelation. His transformation from budding juvenile delinquent to a three-dimensional character yearning to reconnect with his long lost father is the movie's greatest accomplishment. It gives the movie a moral weight which keeps it from degenerating into a 'campy' farce. As you watch his performance unfold, you'll definitely catch a glimpse of the talent that ultimately earned Haley an Oscar nomination many years later for a different film.
The movie has a special meaning for me as it was set in my hometown of Houston, Tx. Watching the movie now stirs-up a wave of childhood memories. It serves as a visual time capsule of what the city was like in the mid-seventies. Newer generations may find it quaint and a little humorous over how awe-stricken the characters were at the mere thought of playing in the Astrodome. Even for those of us who lived through that period in history, it's hard to wrap your head around the fact of how the Astrodome used to be the only 'domed' stadium in existence, but in 1976(when the movie was actually filmed), it was still universally acknowledged as being the '8th Wonder of the World'. How time flies!
The film's plot borrows heavily from it's successful predecessor with a mostly familiar cast of actors ably reprising their roles, and to be honest, the movie offers very little in the way of surprises and was obviously made on the heels of the original to capitalize on its commercial success. The ending was certainly predictable, but I still highly recommend this film for those who enjoyed the original because there are still enough laughs and good performances to carry you all the way through the end.