The Perfect Game (2009)

55% of critics liked it
(40 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(21,151 ratings)

William Dear (Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann) helms the period baseball drama The Perfect Game, a cinematization of real-life events that transpired in 1957. Clifton Collins Jr. stars as Cesar Faz, a 1950s baseball player who immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. with the intent of making it as… More William Dear (Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann) helms the period baseball drama The Perfect Game, a cinematization of real-life events that transpired in 1957. Clifton Collins Jr. stars as Cesar Faz, a 1950s baseball player who immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. with the intent of making it as a Major League player. After encountering racism and hostility that stand squarely in the way of his success, Faz high-tails it south of the border and decides instead to coach a Little League team, ultimately guiding it all the way to the Little League World Series. The film co-stars Emilie de Ravin (Lost); W. William Winokur authored the script. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: William Dear
Written By: W. William Winokur
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Sports & Fitness

In Theaters: Apr 16, 2010 Wide
On DVD: Aug 2, 2011
Studio: Visio Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
Notable only for being a catalog of just about every kid-pic cliche' ever committed to film.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Director William Dear is not one to miss a sentimental beat.
A.O. Scott, At the Movies
[From] the second minute of the movie I knew every single thing that was going to happen and there was not a single surprise.
Joe Leydon, Variety
It's an unabashedly corny but occasionally stirring dramedy based on the true-life story of scrappy young baseball players from Mexico.
Neil Genzlinger, New York Times
So overwhelmed by its own based-on-actual-events tale that it can't find the tone to tell it effectively.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Anyone much older than, say, 10, will likely find the underdog saga sappy and manipulative, not to mention filled with sports movie cliches, including the following statement: "It will take a miracle to make them into a real team."
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
A welcome addition to the expanding genre of baseball films.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
It's easy to praise the film's gushing heart, which might be enough to satisfy less demanding viewer in the mood for a few smiles and cheers; a sparkling tale of baseball triumph ideally issued during the heart of the season.
Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net
It's hard not to root for an underdog, especially a relentlessly optimistic one, and the reality is Game has a lot of heart. But not much in the way of legs.
Tim Avery, Christianity Today
The Perfect Game is an earnest tribute, but the story could have been rendered more convincingly.
Paul Chambers, CNNRadio
A very slow and terrible film. This little league baseball story is so full of holes, that even diehard fans of the game would be hard pressed to sit through it. Paul Chambers, CNN.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
This movie is what's known as family entertainment, which means in this case that it's interesting and harmless.
Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine
A perfect family movie.
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Sentimental, inspiring tale about Little League underdogs.
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
There has been only one perfect game in the history of the Little League World Series, and the story is as unlikely and as perfect as any underdog sports-movie fairy tale.
Mark Dujsik, Mark Reviews Movies
The script's focus is all over the place, and it surely doesn't help that each uplifting moment of this underdog story feels contrived and cloying.
Nell Minow, Beliefnet
Think of it as the "Good News Bears."
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
...a bunch of appealing youngsters paired with the terrific character actor Collins and "The Perfect Game," while corny, is less treacly than it could have been.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

A wonderful story, presented in a very hoaky, melodramatic way. A decent effort, but even I (who likes touching stories) found myself rolling my eyes in more than one scene. Another funny aspect to this movie: the kids from Mexico all talk English amongst themselves. However, when… More
A wonderful story, presented in a very hoaky, melodramatic way. A decent effort, but even I (who likes touching stories) found myself rolling my eyes in more than one scene. Another funny aspect to this movie: the kids from Mexico all talk English amongst themselves. However, when there is a scene with someone who only speaks English, they only verbalize in Spanish. That was very different.
Bently L

We were very lucky to see this film even though the release was very scarce. The film stars Disney Channel stars Jake T. Austin (Wizards of Waverly Place) and Moises Arias (Hannah Montana). It also stars Hayden Panettiere's younger brother, Jansen Panettiere. Them and other young… More
We were very lucky to see this film even though the release was very scarce. The film stars Disney Channel stars Jake T. Austin (Wizards of Waverly Place) and Moises Arias (Hannah Montana). It also stars Hayden Panettiere's younger brother, Jansen Panettiere. Them and other young actors play poor kids from Monterey, Mexico who all love one thing...BASEBALL! Along comes a man who played for the St. Louis Cardinals who is willing to make the boy's dreams of comepting in the Little League World Series in Texas. They then embark on an uplifting adventure built around hope and teamwork. The Perfect Game is an uplifting, funny, and heartwarrming family film. The acting is great and the script is great! The young boys in the movie are believable and likale. This movie is highly reccomended. We think every family should see this!

Cast

            Clifton Collins Jr. as Cesar Faz

            Cheech Marin as Padre Esteban

            Jake T. Austin as Angel Macias

            Emilie De Ravin as Frankie Stevens

            Bruce McGill as Mr. Tanner

            Jansen Panettiere as Enrique Suarez

            Moises Arias as Mario Ontiveros

            Patricia Manterola as Maria

            David Koechner as Charlie 'Mac' Thompkins

            Louis Gossett Jr as Cool Papa Bell

            Frances Fisher as Betty

            Carlos Gomez as Umberto Macias

            John Cothran Jr. as Clarence Bell

            Tracey Walter as Captain Slater

            Oliver Dear as Officer Spike

            Ramon Franco as Señor Villarreal

            Ruben Garfias as Señor Suarez

            Chalo Gonzalez as Maria's Father

            Julieta Ortiz as Señora Suarez

            Leticia Castillo as Señora Onitveros

            Ernie Lively as Coach Sam Hicks

            Karen Trella as Brenda Louisville Tour Guide

            Seraly Morales as Oralia Macias

            Sonya Eddy as Rose Bell

            Chris Mulkey as Lucky Haskins

            William Marquez as Mexican Official #1

            Gino Montesinos as Mexican Official #2

            Ismael 'East' Carlo as Fundidora Supervisor

            Jon Baggio as Bus Ticket Clerk

            Patrick McGreal as Umpire (Louisville)

            Steve Seagren as Umpire (Williamsport)

            David Salzberg as Dylan Texas Cowboy

            Maddy Curley as Waitress

            Samantha Boscarino as Gloria Jimenez

            William May as Juan Zaraqosa

            Andrew Thatcher as Immigration Officer

            Matt Battaglia as Coach McCallan

            Wyatt Smith as McAllen Player #1

            Mat Smith as McAllen Player #2

            Carlos Compean as Mexico City Coach

            Ryan Ochoa
            
See full cast