Not to demean the movie too much. By "low brow", I mean only that it's one reassuring cliché after another, and that's not necessarily bad. It depends on what you're looking for. If "inspiration" is it, you'll enjoy this.
The formula is this: Humble origins, discovery of talent, rise to fame, tragedy and inner demons, rediscovery of self, final triumph.
I quit at the point at which the crippled kid struggled to his feet and said, "It's Babe Ruth! And he talked to ME!" His teary eyed father at his side. mutters in awe: "And they said you'd never stand up again." Life is simpler for some people than for others. If you work hard enough and have faith, you too can become one of the most celebrated people in the world and have your plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame or the Hollywood Walk or the Fields Prize. It helps if you've attended St. Mary's School for Wayward Boys.
But I've always liked Babe Ruth for his political incorrectness, which is here in no way emphasized. I mean, the guy eats hot dogs and other junk food, drinks beer like the German he is, and smokes all the time. (The latter finally killed him.) Let us all salute a rebel.
There's hardly a moment in this film that doesn't belong to a stereotype of one kind or another. That's why it's both low brow and reassuring. It's like attending a church service. Nothing much new but you're reassured that you'll be among the saved.
The formula is this: Humble origins, discovery of talent, rise to fame, tragedy and inner demons, rediscovery of self, final triumph.
I quit at the point at which the crippled kid struggled to his feet and said, "It's Babe Ruth! And he talked to ME!" His teary eyed father at his side. mutters in awe: "And they said you'd never stand up again." Life is simpler for some people than for others. If you work hard enough and have faith, you too can become one of the most celebrated people in the world and have your plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame or the Hollywood Walk or the Fields Prize. It helps if you've attended St. Mary's School for Wayward Boys.
But I've always liked Babe Ruth for his political incorrectness, which is here in no way emphasized. I mean, the guy eats hot dogs and other junk food, drinks beer like the German he is, and smokes all the time. (The latter finally killed him.) Let us all salute a rebel.
There's hardly a moment in this film that doesn't belong to a stereotype of one kind or another. That's why it's both low brow and reassuring. It's like attending a church service. Nothing much new but you're reassured that you'll be among the saved.