MR. ROOKIE 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.
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