wes-connors
The IRS is after widower Harry Connick Jr. (as Tripp Spence). Since he doesn't have the money, Mr. Connick runs away to Las Vegas, with athletic young son Shawn Salinas (as Derrick). They darken their blond hair, to become "Glen Ryan" and his son "Mickey". Clear-glassed spectacles assist in the disguise. When questioned about the lack of prescription strength, Connick says his son is "slightly" nearsighted. Apparently, there are no school nurses in Las Vegas.One of the benefits of the new identities is that young Salinas gets to remain a 12-year-old, because "Mickey" is twelve - so, father Connick can play him in "Little League" another year. A better idea would have been for Connick to find his son an older identity. But, many of the other "Little League" kids look older, especially the Cubans. If they are taking steroids, it isn't shown. "Mickey" is curiously immoral, for a "family film". But, Salinas performs the title role well.*** Mickey (4/30/04) John Grisham, Hugh Wilson ~ Harry Connick Jr., Shawn Salinas, Michelle Johnson
wtdaveyjr3
I was attracted to this movie because I await every new Grisham release with great expectations. I was a bit disappointed that Mickey turned out to be a screenplay and not a novel, but bought the movie and, after seeing it, decided to buy it for others. While a fine story, and well done, my greater interest was in anticipating how Grisham would resolve the moral dilemma carefully constructed during the early scenes. It was handled very much to my satisfaction. I highly recommend that parents sit down and see this movie straight through with their children just entering the teenage years. Great entertainment and great education presented in the Grisham manner.
TheFossil
While I'm not particularly a fan of baseball, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie about a young man who, due to circumstances surrounding his father's issues with the IRS, gets to delay his transition from child to teenager and repeat his last year of little league. While I wasn't particularly able to relate to the baseball part so much, I certainly WAS able to relate to IRS "problems", so I personally did not find this sub-plot to be a distraction.An added plus was discovering that real little league players were used in the cast. While there =was= a script, the effect was that of just watching boys being boys. I didn't find the plot line to be contrived at all. The obvious love of a father for his son was an emotionally uplifting aspect of this moving story.
gumplord
I decided to take in this film primarily because it showcases the premier event of my hometown, by virtue of which has allowed me its access. I went in with few expectations, and left feeling quite satisfied. This film certainly ventures from the typical Hollywood fluff one might expect from a movie featuring Little League Baseball, casting a dark aura about an event cherished for its purity. Some off-beat humor slips in from time to time, as well as some stunning contrast of emotion rarely seen in mainstream films. I also paid attention to many of the details, given that I spent my childhood late Augusts watching the games at Lamade Stadium. I will say I would have loved to see in some of the shots children sliding down the upper hill behind Lamade on pieces of cardboard boxes, which has become a trademark of Little League Baseball ambiance, but I understand the absence. All in all, good viewing, and a shame that this film will likely pass into relative obscurity.
AD
