The Scout (1994)

22% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
23% of users liked it
(7,263 ratings)

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.… More 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. Brooks's normally winning mix of laughs with psychological insights didn't add up to box office or critical success, despite cameos from real-life sports figures such as George Steinbrenner and Steve Garvey. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Michael Ritchie
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 30, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Oct 2, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
The Scout is the best comedy-fantasy about baseball ever made, which goes to show that if Hollywood keeps trying, eventually someone will get it right.
Brian Lowry, Variety
Even with the modest allure of Albert Brooks in what amounts to a mainstream effort, The Scout should get a quick trip to the showers.
Caryn James, New York Times
The Scout was directed by Michael Ritchie and written by Mr. Brooks and Monica Johnson from a script written by Andrew Bergman years ago. It's probably not all that valuable to wonder how so many talented people went so wrong.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Rarely does a movie start high and go downhill so fast. It's as if the filmmakers progressively lost their nerve with every additional scene.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
A genuine -- and immensely enjoyable -- curiosity.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
It's been a long time since there's been a good baseball movie. The Scout makes you wonder if there's ever going to be one again.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
An amusing comic premise, mixing baseball and psychiatry, gets lost along the way in a film that displays much evidence of post-production tampering.
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Brooks is fun, nothing else in the movie is.
Shellie Iliff, Palo Alto Weekly
This is the laziest piece of work in the fall big-screen lineup so far.
Brant Bingamon, Austin Chronicle
Having sat through many a Fraser film, I am constantly amazed that there is nothing this boy can't do. Well, except act his way out of a paper bag.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
Baseball fans will hate The Scout because it makes a mockery of the game. Not quite as badly as Ed, which stars a monkey as the star pitcher, but close. Non-baseball fans will hate it because it's not funny.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

danny d

really good sports flick

Cast

            Albert Brooks as Al Percolo

            Brendan Fraser as Steve Nebraska

            Dianne Wiest as Doctor H. Aaron

            Lane Smith as Ron Wilson

            Anne Twomey as Jennifer

            Michael Rapaport as Tommy Lacy

            Tony Bennett as Himself

            John Capodice as Caruso

            Josh Clark as Reporter

            Jose Luis Cortes as Mexican Desk Clerk

            Steve Eastin as Clubhouse Manager

            Roy Firestone as Himself

            Garfield as Stan

            Steve Garvey as Himself

            Keith Hernandez as Himself

            John LaMotta as Elevator Guard

            Jordan Lage as Reporter

            Larry Loonin as Radar Gun Man

            Tim McCarver as Himself

            Harsh Nayyar as Cab Driver

            Gabriel Pingarron as Mexican Umpire

            Jack Rader as Mr. Lacy

            Marcia Rodd as Mrs. Lacy

            Ozzie Smith as Himself

            Charlie Stavola as Doorman

            Lee Weaver as Ben

            Chuck Waters as Photographer

            Steven M. Porter as Reporter

            Frank Slaten as College Umpire

            John B. Sterling as Himself

            Barry Shabaka Henley as McDermott

            George Steinbrenner as Himself

            Brett Rickaby as George's Assistant

            Bruce Wright as Reporter
See full cast