Major League: Back to the Minors (1998)

Truly Dreadful Film

Sorry, this movie sucks

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

Major League: Back to the Minors (1998) BOMB (out of 4)The third and to date final film in the series is without question just a poor attempt to make some cash on a popular film. This time out a washed up pitcher (Scott Bakula) is hired as a AAA coach to try and turn some losers into winners. They eventually get their chance when they get an exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins. MAJOR LEAGUE: BACK TO THE MINORS is without question one of the worst sequels in the history of sequels. Throughout the 100-minute running time there wasn't a single time that I laughed and even worse is that there wasn't a single smile on my face at any point during this disaster. Most sequels are just watered down or poorly-written versions of an original that makes money but this here even gives those types of films a bad name. There's really not a fresh or original idea to be found here and what's worse is that the film simply runs so long for no reason. Every single thing that happens here is nothing more than a cliché of a cliché and to make matters worse is that you'll see every predictable moment coming from a mile away. Bakula has had a few decent moments in his career but this here isn't one of them. Clearly this was a paycheck as he walks through the role without much energy. Corbin Bernsen and Dennis Haysbert are on hand for a connection to the previous films but they do nothing in their roles. Even Bob Uecker is wasted in his bit. Ted McGinley of 'Married...With Children' fame is given nothing to do as the Twins head coach. This film here really had no reason to be made unless the goal was to become one of the worst films ever made.

"Hey Mr. Berenger! Would you like to play your character Jake Taylor in Major League 3?" "No thanks." "Please!" "Nope." "Mr. Sheen, would you consider reprising your role as Wild Thing in Major League 3?" "Nope." "Please!" "Nope." "Mr. Bernsen, would you like to reprise your role as Roger Dorn for Major League 3?" "Why not?" "Yeah, we can make an unnecessary sequel!" That my friends is quite possibly how Major League: Back to the Minors got made. Or was it the fact that around the time this film was made the Cleveland Indians were winning and making a film about a group of misfit underdogs on the same team that is really doing well in real life would be a curse? Regardless, it should've been left alone. Now we got a nice, nearly unrelated sequel leaching off of the Major League.David S. Ward, director of both previous films, as been docked down to co writer of this mess. Something told me that even he wasn't fully on board with this film. Back to the Minors turns the tables from the Indians to the Minnesota Twins, the team Roger Dorn (Bernsen) now owns. The film focuses on Gus Cantrell (Bakula), a minor league pitcher for a team called the Fort Myers Miracle.Roger offers Gus a job coaching the Twins' minor league affiliate the South Carolina Buzz. Two of the members from the Cleveland Indians team return. Those are Pedro Cerrano (Haysbert) and Taka Tanaka (Takaaki Ishibashi). Wonderful because I wasn't too big of a fan of Cerrano and couldn't stand Tanaka.When you can't get the two leads who made a film what it was, don't make a sequel to a film without them. Don't think a crappy spin off is treating the fans to something special. It isn't.Thank the lord Bob Uecker reprises his role as the alcoholic Indians announcer. But this time he is announcing the Buzz? The film doesn't even provide an answer to why Cerrano, Tanaka, and the announcer are now with the Buzz. They all looked great last season, why did the Indians trade them? Is Jake Taylor still the manager of the Indians? Did the team trade Wild Thing? Did they win the World Series? The film doesn't provide the answer to questions fans are asking.Major League: Back to the Minors is now the big wart on the entire franchise. There never needed to be a third film. The idea should've been scrapped when Berenger and Sheen said they wouldn't return. But of course, the money is what matters. Not even James Gammon comes back as a cameo. This film is one of the most tasteless and lackadaisical sequels I've ever seen.Though it was this film that made me realize Corbin Bernsen, Roger Dorn in the film, would later go on to play the father in I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, my favorite holiday film. It was good for that.Starring: Scott Bakula, Corbin Bernsen, Dennis Haysbert, Ted McGinley, Takaaki Ishibashi, and Bob Uecker. Directed by: John Warren.

I am a HUGE fan of the first MAJOR LEAGUE. It is a fantastic movie! The first film in this trilogy has a very witty script, great performances from a stellar cast, and is just a well made, funny, exciting and entertaining film.A big reason the first film succeeded was because it was rated R. It had (oh my gosh) swear words. It was believable. The sequel, which I've seen twice and both times fucckking hated (censor that IMDb people) failed for the same reason the first film was a hit. The third film, which I'm sure was Direct-to-video, had a chance to be something special. No pressure from the studio to produce millions of dollars, it could have been a mini-Bull Durham, but just a tad more silly. It started off well, but then they started with the recurring characters. If it's not Snipes, Sheen or Berenger, to be honest, no one gives a shhitt (Censor that too)Again, everything must come back to the budget. It's hard enough to make a quality film, and even harder with no money and a shittttty script, but someone on the set must have just given up halfway through. All the checks were cashed and they said, "Well, the first film was great so let's just think about the next project."The main roles were well acted, and the direction was fine - but they just had NO F-ING STORY.

Man, this is Scott back to his best. Even more polished than the famed and acclaimed Quantum Leap. Pure class!! This film had me in stitches. Both times I watched it!!! Wow, and he is more than abley backed up by his arch enemy Leonard Huff. Pure genius.