A League of Their Own
Release Date: July 1, 1992Writer: Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Director: Penny Marshall
Logline: Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amidst their own growing rivalry. (Source: IMDb) (Comedy, 128 min)
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests
Review
This movie is a delight from start to finish. I mean, how could you go wrong with Geena Davis, Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell? Add Tom Hanks and no question, you've got a home run.
There are lots of laughs and memorable lines throughout, but the plot lacks tension. There is some conflict with the threat of a League shutdown and women choosing to leave the team, but the stakes never feel that high. Dottie's easy breezy attitude toward her career in baseball translates to the rest of the film as you never feel overly concerned - you pretty much know that everything will work out in the end. This lack of tension may make for a less exciting movie in some ways but in my opinion, the characters make up for it.
At the end of the day, I love this movie. I want to be Geena Davis when I grow up and I've made it a personal goal to work "There is no crying in baseball" into at least one conversation every day.
Portrayal of Women: The nice thing about a women ensemble cast is that it allows for different types of women to be represented. Some want to get married, some want to focus on their careers, some are beauty queens, some don't give their appearance a second thought. If you're a girl who is watching this movie, there is a good chance you'll see someone that is a reflection of you in some way.
Of course when we talk about representation, it isn't simply if there is enough women in the film. We must also look at what kinds of women are shown. If there is a problem with the underrepresentation of women in Hollywood, there is an even bigger problem with the underrepresentation of women who identify with a minority. There is one moment in the film where an African American woman catches a lost baseball and throws it back with a strength and speed that suggests she could easily be a star player. The knowing glance Dottie (Davis) gives her is a great moment of recognition that allowing white women to play baseball just isn't enough. At the very least, the film acknowledges this downfall and gives a glimmer of hope that things will eventually change.
Sisterhood moment: One moment that stands out is after the tryouts when the names of the women who have made the team are posted. Once the excitement has died down, one lone girl remains searching the lists. Everyone stares at her, the scout growls at her to hurry up, she begins to cry. We realize that she can't read. There are no laughs, no sneers, no mean comments - just other women who are willing to help. The unspoken rule of looking out for your fellow girls. Even though they are in a world of competition, their ongoing support for each other is admirable.
Besides the many instances of friendship, we also have the actual sister relationship between Dottie and Kit. They have a typical big sister/little sister dynamic that is often strained and competitive. In the end, they prove that there is nothing in this world more important or valuable than a sister.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
IMDB - A League of Their Own (7.1)
Wikipedia - A League of Their Own
Rotten Tomatoes - A League of Their Own (77%)
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