The Slugger's Wife (1985)

0% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
23% of users liked it
(821 ratings)

This routine film should have been called the "rock singer's husband" because it is about the life of a baseball player affected by his love for a singer. Darryl Palmer (Michael O'Keefe) plays for the Atlanta Braves, and when he walks into a nightclub and sees an attractive woman singing (Rebecca… More This routine film should have been called the "rock singer's husband" because it is about the life of a baseball player affected by his love for a singer. Darryl Palmer (Michael O'Keefe) plays for the Atlanta Braves, and when he walks into a nightclub and sees an attractive woman singing (Rebecca DeMornay), he pulls up to home plate and is anxious to meet her. From then on, his persistence in courting her is unstoppable in spite of several unhappy setbacks, and finally their romance makes it to first base when she realizes she loves him too, and they are married. From that point onward, his career starts to soar, while her career begins to slide in the opposite direction. In fact, she has given up her job to go live with him on his home turf, and the sacrifice, in the end, proves to be too much. A separation is inevitable, and while he still has his teammates (Randy Quaid, Cleavant Derricks), he would rather have his wife back. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Hal Ashby
Written By: Neil Simon
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Mar 9, 2004

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Simon's not in a lighthearted mood, and so the silliness of the story gets bogged down in all sorts of gloomy neuroses, angry denunciations, and painful self-analysis.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Resoundingly unfunny.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
It is one of the most disappointing, least credible films about baseball in recent memory.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Neil Simon on auto-pilot; the results are dreadful

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Cast

            Michael O'Keefe as Darryl Palmer

            Rebecca De Mornay as Debby Palmer

            Martin Ritt as Burley De Vito

            Randy Quaid as Moose Granger

            Cleavant Derricks as Manny Alvarado

            Lisa Langlois as Aline Cooper

            Loudon Wainwright III as Gary

            Dan Biggers as Preacher

            Dennis Burkley as Chuck

            Marc Clement as Mr. Davis

            Georgann Johnson as Marie De Vito

            René Lefèvre
            
            Wallace Merck as Fan in Limelight

            Anthony Peck as Reporter

            Richard Alan Reiner as Patron at Zelda's

            Lynn Whitfield as Tina Alvarado

            Mort Schwartz as Man

            Alisha Das as Lola

            John Lawhorn as Coach Reckon

            Kevin James Barnes as Public Address

            John W. Bradley as Himself

            Skip Caray as Sportscaster

            Nick Charles as Sportscaster

            Edwin H. Cipot as Cuneo

            Steve Daniels Jr. as Umpire

            Charles Darden as Reporter

            Collin Fagan as Umpire

            Mark Fidrych as Baseball Player

            Bill G. Fite as Catcher

            Phillipe Fontanelli as Waiter

            Al Garrison as Guard

            Martha Harrison as Baseball Wife

            Alex Hawkins as Hawkins

            Nicandra Hood as Nurse

            Al Hrobosky as Baseball Player

            Ernie Johnson as Baseball Narrator

            Julie Kemp as Paloma

            Tina Kincaid as Baseball Wife

            George Jack Klarman as Umpire

            Kay McClelland as Peggy

            Corey B. McPherrin as Reporter

            Valerie Mitchell as Waitress at Limelight

            Douglas Garland Nave as Catcher

            Brad Nessler as Reporter

            Jerome Olds as Musician

            David M. Pallone as Umpire

            Becky Pate as Baseball Wife

            Chico Renfroe as Reporter

            Henry J. Rountree as Umpire

            Paul S. Ryden as Reporter

            John Buren Solberg as Reporter

            John B. Sterling as Himself

            Stephen H. Stier as Varsity Patron

            George Stokes as Stage Manager

            Ginger Taylor as Sherry

            Justine Thielemann as Mrs. Granger

            Danny Tucker as Coach O'Brien

            Pete Van Wieren as Baseball Narrator

            Harmon L. Wages as Interviewer

            Erby Walker as Waiter

            Johnny B. Watson Jr. as Gateman

            David R. Yood as Cop in Varsity
See full cast

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