The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Gems: Angels in the Outfield (1994)

How do you choose what to watch on all those streaming services you have access to? There are so many options that it is just overwhelming. These services constantly release new content and overshadow all the great films from the past that are already there and ready to watch. Now there is The Wasteland Gems! Here is a great film on streaming right now that you should check out this weekend:

 Angels in the Outfield (1994)

Are you ready to head out to the ballpark? This is the special time of year (for baseball fans at least) where the Major League Baseball season is just starting up! This journey spans six months of regular season games and a bonus month of the playoffs. Almost every day, we are treated to games and can get lost in the wonder that is the game of baseball. There are plenty of great baseball films out there that can help you get in the mood as well. One such film from Disney is certainly a fun, nostalgic ride for those born in the 90s…Angels in the Outfield (a remake of a 50s classic in its own right). 

What makes this such a charming experience? The concept of the film is such a fun idea. A little boy’s wish gets the California Angels (two whole team names ago) a little extra help. Literal angels begin to show up to help the team win games and turn their season around. The special effects and how they bring this to life feel super 90s but there is a charming element to the whole experience. This film is earnest without being cynical, which you might expect from a film in the 90s. The heart is huge as we get behind this whole venture and how our young protagonist, Roger, gets to be a family with his father again if the Angels with the pennant. This film offers up a fun mix of sport movies with a healthy helping of fantasy while being a lowkey and effective faith-based film. The team succeeds because Roger decides to reach us to God and believe. Having actual angels in the film certainly gets that feeling across the board as well. 

Is this more than just a fun time at the movies? Angels in the Outfield packs a solid punch when it comes to emotion and themes. This is about a boy and his best friend who are in a foster home. Right off the bat…that brings some weight and emotion. The dynamic (or lack that is) between Roger and his father brings a lot of emotion to the table as well. There are some hard scenes to watch because Roger keeps getting let down. But their foster mother is certainly not what you expect from movie foster mothers. She is kind and loving and does what she can. But the found family with this team and the fatherly figure that Coach Knox (Danny Glover) becomes is so meaningful. 

What is the craziest aspect of this already wild film? The cast is insanely stacked. Glover brings a lot of weight and charm to this coach role at the center of the film. Christopher Lloyd is endlessly charismatic and fun in the role of Al, the head angel. He is one of the most memorable and impactful elements of the whole film. Roger is portrayed by a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt who had plenty of talent even at that age. Then you have all the unexpected names on this team. Tony Danza. Adrien Brody. Matthew McConaughey. And there are even more recognizable faces like screen legend Ben Johnson (who is the team owner). There is more charm than you could ever need when you have a cast like this. 

Is Angels in the Outfield the best baseball movie? No. Classics like Field of Dreams, A League of Their Own, The Natural, and even Major League define the cinematic subgenre more. But this is a charming, sincere, and moving little film. The emotion and effects stand out along with some good laughs along the way. It is hard not to enjoy such a stacked cast of talented performers. Such a great concept with some solid and enjoyable 90s execution. 

Angels in the Outfield is streaming on Disney+.