Mickey - A Family Story by John Grisham

Starring:Gill Baker, Danny Bell, Andrew C. Boothby, Harry Connick Jr., Richard Fullerton, Peter Gil, Michelle Johnson, Mark Joy, Stan Kelly, Jason Kypros, Jon-Michael Moralez, Jonathan Orcutt, Alexander Roos, Shawn Salinas, Mike Starr, Tom Trigo, Sam Wells, Kent C. Williamson, Don Yesso
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
John Grisham wrote the screenplay for and produced the enjoyable Mickey, a family drama that explores--typical of the bestselling author--seemingly unresolvable conflicts between the personal and the ethical. Harry Connick Jr. plays California attorney Tripp Spence, a widower whose recent bankruptcy has come under scrutiny from the IRS. Admitting wrongdoing to his son, Derrick (Shawn Salinas), Tripp vows to avoid jail, and the two head for Las Vegas under assumed identities. Rather than stay out of sight, however, Tripp talks the manager (Mike Starr) of a first-rate Little League team into drafting Derrick, a 13-year-old, talented pitcher who claims to be younger. Soon Derrick is attracting national attention, precisely what Tripp doesn't want, yet he refuses to squelch his son's brilliant ride to the top. Hugh Wilson (Guarding Tess) directed this brisk, smart feature, which includes a generous amount of on-the-field baseball action and an intriguing subplot about Cuban ball players. --Tom Keogh

Stills from Mickey

Harry Connick Jr. as Tripp Spence
Shawn Salinas as Derrick, a.k.a. Mickey
Writer/producer John Grisham cameos as a Little League Commissioner

Amazon.com

John Grisham wrote the screenplay for and produced the enjoyable Mickey, a family drama that explores--typical of the bestselling author--seemingly unresolvable conflicts between the personal and the ethical. Harry Connick Jr. plays California attorney Tripp Spence, a widower whose recent bankruptcy has come under scrutiny from the IRS. Admitting wrongdoing to his son, Derrick (Shawn Salinas), Tripp vows to avoid jail, and the two head for Las Vegas under assumed identities. Rather than stay out of sight, however, Tripp talks the manager (Mike Starr) of a first-rate Little League team into drafting Derrick, a 13-year-old, talented pitcher who claims to be younger. Soon Derrick is attracting national attention, precisely what Tripp doesn't want, yet he refuses to squelch his son's brilliant ride to the top. Hugh Wilson (Guarding Tess) directed this brisk, smart feature, which includes a generous amount of on-the-field baseball action and an intriguing subplot about Cuban ball players. --Tom Keogh

Stills from Mickey

Harry Connick Jr. as Tripp Spence
Shawn Salinas as Derrick, a.k.a. Mickey
Writer/producer John Grisham cameos as a Little League Commissioner

Description

When widowed attorney Tripp Spence (Harry Connick Jr. of INDEPENDENCE DAY) finds himself wanted by the IRS, he and his young pitching sensation son Derrick (Shawn Salinas in his movie debut) change their appearance, assume new identities and flee to Las Vegas. Here, Derrick becomes `Mickey' and Tripp enrolls him in a second final year of Little League. But as the nation, the government and a nervous Tripp watch, `Mickey' leads his team from the city championship all the way to the controversial final game of the Little League World Series. Can a 13-year-old fugitive with an 80 mph fastball now find a way to stay anonymous - and honest - as the most famous 12-year-old athlete in the world? Michelle Johnson (FAR AND AWAY) and Mike Starr (DUMB AND DUMBER) co-star in this exciting and powerful drama directed by Hugh Wilson (POLICE ACADEMY, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB) from an original screenplay by #1 best-selling author and proud Little League coach John Grisham

Customer Reviews:

Great Baseball Action, Decent Movie.......2007-06-18

The Good:
* Great baseball action. Much more realistic than almost every other kids baseball movie I've seen. The actors obviously know how to really play.
* Good, clean, family movie. Absolutely no foul language. No sex except one regrettable piece of audio (see below).
* Decent plot and acting for a kids' movie. Let's be honest - this isn't great cinema and isn't at the same level of dramatic effect as traditional Grisham work. But accept it for what it is and enjoy it.

The Bad:
* One unnecessary scene where the coaches forget to cut off access to adult channels in the hotel room and the scene cuts to the kids watching porn - the TV isn't shown but you hear moans and groans in the background. Just watch for the scene where the coaches are walking down the hotel hallway and mute the next 30 seconds.
* Everyone experiences the consequences of their cheating (they're stripped of the LLWS crown, the Cubans are sent away in disgrace, and Trip goes to jail), but the consequences fly by in about two minutes of film time. Pay attention or you'll miss it.
* The final scene shows Mickey reunited with his dad after Trip's year in jail, but it looks like the boys have aged about 4 years during that span. A jarring change.
* The IRS inexplicably chases down one-time tax fraud Trip but lets the career false-identity-creator go free just because he tells the feds what Trip's new name is.
* The little league coach is incompetent and portrayed as obviously overmatched and visibly overcome with nerves in every big game. The kids, though, are as cool as the other side of the pillow. Typical kids movie device, much as I hate it.

Mickey - a family baseball story.......2007-03-25

Mickey is the story about a father and son forced to move and change their identities. This is a family movie that all ages can watch and enjoy. The storyline sounds familiar and one that you may have heard times before but the ending is not what you expect.
Harry Connick Jr does a good job as the father on the run. The supporting cast does a good job of portraying their characters and engaging you in the story.

Mickey-A Family Story.......2007-03-15

THis is a great family movie for all ages. Not only is it about sports, but it teaches lessons on honesty and family values. My whole family loves it!!!

I just couldn't get into this movie.......2007-03-13

It is rated family but I though otherwise. The main character is running from the law. He has talked his son into playing illegally. He doesn't come clean until he absolutely HAS to.

One more season.......2006-06-09

I was stunned that this movie captured the same sentiments I had when watching my sons play baseball. There is nothing like the culmination of a twelve-year olds season, the tournaments on the road, and under the lights. It is a good story for young (and seasoned) athletes of any sport, of any game: The consequences of making a decision are complex, and go way beyond the moment in time and space. And, yeah!! the players weren't faking; they were real!

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