Review: Mr. Rookie (2003)
Steve Rhodes
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *** 1/2
If MR. ROOKIE was any sweeter, it would cause cavities -- and I mean that only
as a big compliment. This comedy/drama is a sports movie with a twist.
Something like a cross between BATMAN and THE NATURAL, it tells the story of a
young father who is a salaryman at a Japanese beer company by day and a masked
relief pitcher for a professional baseball team by night.
Whenever Mr. Rookie (Kazushige Nagashima) comes onto the playing field in the
ninth inning, the fireworks go off and his fans go wild. It's a pure ROCKY
moment. Mr. Rookie, Ohara Koji's alter ego, is a very good pitcher but no
superhuman, which makes watching his exploits all the more interesting. Koji
was going to be a professional baseball player when he was young, but he hurt
his shoulder just before he had his big chance. A year ago, a doctor mended it,
making his new dual life a possibility.
Not willing to risk his career at the beer company but wanting to follow his
dreams, he devised the mask scheme. A tabloid has named him one of Japan's ten
sexiest men, which makes him blush. But he is really good looking, as is the
movie itself.
The film calls to mind other wonderful, uplifting and sweet pictures from Japan,
including SHALL WE DANCE? and WELCOME BACK, MR. MCDONALD. It provides American
audience with a rare glimpse into Japanese family and work life. In a rigidly
hierarchical society like Japan's, the organization chart is so painfully
obvious that they might as well have printed it on everyone's forehead at Koji's
company. The movie shows how workers adapt and even thrive in a system that
makes non-conformity difficult.
Koji's family life is especially precious. His wife and son have dreams of
their own, which sometimes mesh with and other times clash with his. My
favorite part was that, after his wife figured out that her husband was Mr.
Rookie, she could not convince their son of that fact. It reminded me of time
that I was chosen to be the "Zero the Hero" magician to celebrate the one
hundredth day of my son's kindergarten class. As was the tradition, I had to
come in mask and costume and do tricks that involve the number one hundred. For
reasons I still don't understand, everyone recognized me -- "Hi, Mr. Rhodes!" --
as soon as I entered the classroom. Only my son Jeffrey absolutely refused to
believe it was me. He was quite sure that his father couldn't perform magic
tricks.
Here is something you can believe. This movie is a stunning little charmer.
MR. ROOKIE runs 1:58. The film is in Japanese with English subtitles. It is
not rated but would be a G and would be acceptable for all ages.
The film is being shown as part of San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival
(www.Cinequest.org), which runs February 27 to March 9, 2003.
Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email: Steve....@InternetReviews.com
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