The Scout (1994):

Starring:

Albert Brooks - Al Percolo

Brendan Fraser - Steve Nebraska

Dianne West - Dr. Aaron

Anne Twomey - Jennifer

Lane Smith - Ron Wilson

Michael Rapaport - Tommy Lacy

Barry Shabaka Henley - McDermott

John Capodice - Caruso

J.K. Simmons - Assistant Coach

 Director: Michael Ritchie(Fletch; Golden Child; Bad News Bears)

Rotten Tomatoes: 22%

Flixster: 23%

Synopsis:

After several weeks filming The Scout in the late 1970s, star Peter Falk and director Howard Zieff abandoned the project. Two decades later, writer Andrew Bergman gave his original script to Albert Brooks and Monica Johnson, who polished it as a vehicle for Brooks and director Michael Ritchie. Brooks stars as Al Percolo, a talent scout for the New York Yankees whose latest recruit (Michael Rapaport) has just vomited on the field and fled. Sent to Mexico as punishment by his boss (Lane Smith), Percolo finds phenomenal young pitcher Steve Nebraska (Brendan Fraser). Before he can get back to the Big Apple, however, Percolo gets pink-slipped by the Yankees, so he offers Nebraska as a free agent. After a stellar tryout, Nebraska is signed for millions. Soon after, he starts to exhibit odd behaviors that may be linked to psychological problems. A psychiatrist (Dianne Wiest) hired by the ball club wants Nebraska in daily therapy, so Percolo ends up babysitting a mentally unstable pitcher.

Review:

I absolutely love the concept of this film. The shame about it is that they could have made it into a serious dramatic picture, much like Any Given Sunday or Moneyball. However they took too long into the film getting to the serious, dramatic feature & spent the majority of the film with Fraser playing his goofy, over the top self that he plays in most films. However once it gets past the silly & goofy comedic part & gets to the dramatic aspect (very late into the film) Fraser is actually quite good with his emotional portrayal of a man dealing with his emotional past that he has tried to hide from. Albert Brooks, who is great in everything, is funny at times, but at other times he's a little bit disconnected from the story because he is just as goofy as Fraser. The supporting cast, kind of almost doesn't exist. Mainly because it's packed with cameo appearances from former & at the time current baseball players, owners & sports commentators. They make George Steinbrenner look like a completely stupid person & almost mock the Yankees organization. It has it's moments, but it also has a minimal amount of baseball actually in it. Funny cameo by a younger Michael Rapaport. Overall it was good but not great. Love Albert Brooks, I actually might be one person who doesn't mind Brendan Fraser. I do enjoy it though. The Ending was incredibly stupid & was pretty much from a kids movie & ultimately ruined the climax of the film.

 56%

Main Acting: 9/15

Supporting Cast: 3/15

Plot: 6/10

Compared To The Genre: 7/10

Cinematography: 10/20

Intrigue: 15/20

Extra: 6/10