Movie Review: A League of Their Own
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What Parents Should Know
Some indirect sex talk and mild profanity make the movie
somewhat questionable for younger kids, but tweens will like
the spirit of camaraderie and the well-shot baseball games. The
players model impressive team spirit while the movie tells the
little-known true tale of women's wartime baseball.
Families can talk about women's role (or lack thereof) in most professional sports. Do you think women could compete equally on men's teams? Why or why not?
Common Sense Media Review
There are few things as enjoyable as a good baseball movie;
everyone loves the story of teamwork and triumph that lies at
the heart of America's favorite game. But this movie one-ups
that formula by focusing on the exceptional circumstances
surrounding the All-American Girls League.
Not only do we get the scoop on the skills and friendships that develop among the Peaches, we also get a sense of the unique difficulties for a women's league in the midst of pre-feminist America. While there are many funny moments, such as the mocking spectator who gets nailed by an errant pitch, these women suffer for being athletes at a time when women were supposed to look pretty and bake cakes. And just when they achieve success on the playing field, the war ends, and they're abruptly abandoned by management and fans alike.
A 13-year-old viewer and her 11-year-old brother were both captivated by this movie, although they lost interest during the maudlin epilogue that's set forty years later, when the A.A.G.P.B.L. is finally recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame. The two children were most taken by the Peaches themselves, who range from an outspoken former bouncer (Rosie O'Donnell) to a sultry taxi-dancer (Madonna).
They were also charmed by Tom Hanks' hilarious performance as Jimmy Dugan, a washed-up former baseball star who initially doesn't relish being the Peaches' team manager; this is some of the richest character work Hanks has done to date.
If baseball is your game, check out Field of Dreams. If you want to see Tom Hanks in another Penny Marshall movie, look for the hilarious Big.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
