This one reminisces of cheesy, children’s sports movies. You may know the formula: bland main characters who don’t fit in anywhere else suck at whatever sport in question; get into silly trouble; improve their skills in very little time via montage; make it to the championship; and of course, come out on top. The villains? Equally bland, two-bit bullies.

Then again, given the track record of Charlie’s baseball team, a situation akin to such types of movies is just what the doctor ordered. But doesn’t Sally’s suggestion to disrupt the starting pitcher’s concentration with Beethoven count as cheating? …On the other hand, one COULD argue PP’s team cheated the way a kid kept saying, “You’re out!” when it was clear that pesky vines kept ruining Charlie’s teammates’ attempts ta hit a ball…I give up.

Loved Dennis tying Lucy’s shoes together. ‘Bout time she got humbled. What other sport can you say, “Someone licked the ball”? I pick basketball. I’m referring to the movie Air Bud.

My verdict: Not quite what I hoped for, but very close.

Amazing tale on many levels... good crossovers, good characterizations, great cameos from the tv guys (although I thought Joe and Vin had retired in the early 1990s), and I LOVED the baseball history thrown in there! It worked well! Although I have to admit that I can't figure out how Marmaduke could play baseball-I know he could catch it in, or pick it up in, his mouth, and then run faster that the baserunner... Maybe he gets hit alot and thrown to first. Good Dusty Springfield reference.

And I was surprised and somewhat happy to see Wild Thing in there. I was two years behind him in high school and it was a thrill one day when he came into my class to talk with one of my classmates on the baseball team, and very neat to see him pitch a victory in the state championship game later that spring.

Thanks,

Gordon