Angels in the Outfield (1994)

When a boy prays for a chance to have a family if the California Angels win the pennant, angels are assigned to make that possible.

Director:

William Dear

Writers:

Dorothy Kingsley, George Wells,

Stars:

Danny Glover, Brenda Fricker, Tony Danza

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Glover	...	George Knox
Brenda Fricker	...	Maggie Nelson
Tony Danza	...	Mel Clark
Christopher Lloyd	...	Al the Boss Angel
Ben Johnson	...	Hank Murphy
Jay O. Sanders	...	Ranch Wilder
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Roger Bomman
Milton Davis Jr.	...	J.P.
Taylor Negron	...	David Montagne
Tony Longo	...	Triscuitt Messmer
Neal McDonough	...	Whitt Bass
Stoney Jackson	...	Ray Mitchell
Adrien Brody	...	Danny Hemmerling
Tim Conlon	...	Wally
Matthew McConaughey	...	Ben Williams

Storyline

Roger who has lost his mother is living separated from his father. As he and his friend J.P. are one of the biggest fans of the Los Angeles baseball team he has got only two dreams: Living together with a real family and let LA win the championship. As he is praying for these two things to happen some angels show up in order to help him - but he is the only one to see them and believe in them. Fortunately the coach of the baseball team sees his abilities and so LA has a run to the finals...

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Plot Keywords:

angel | team | baseball | friend | coach | 

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Taglines:

It Could Happen.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 July 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Angels

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$50,236,831 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Caravan Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "tobacco" that Carney Lansford spits at the end of the movie is actually black licorice.

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Goofs

In the top of the ninth in the game against the White Sox, a sacrifice bunt moves the lead runner to second. In the next shot, the pitcher Mel Clark checks a runner at first, though there is only one man on base (at second).

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Quotes

[first lines]
JP: Roger, do you believe in heaven?
Roger Bomman: I guess. That's where they said my mom went.

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Connections

Referenced in The Nostalgia Chick: City of Angels (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Hippy Hippy Shake"
Written by Robert L. Romero
Performed by The Swinging Blue Jeans (as Swinging Blue Jeans)
Courtesy of EMI Records, USA, A Division of ERG
Under License from CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

Baseball aside, very enjoyable Disney flick!

As a baseball die-hard, this movie goes contrary to what I expect in a sports movie: authentic-looking sports action, believable characters, and an original story line. While "Angels in the Outfield" fails miserably in the first category, it succeeds beautifully in the latter two. "Angels" weaves the story of Roger and J.P., two Anaheim foster kids in love with baseball but searching for a family, with that of the woebegone Angels franchise, struggling to draw fans and win games. Pushed by his deadbeat father's promise that they would be a family only when the Angels win the pennant, Roger asks for some heavenly help, and gets it in the form of diamond-dwelling spirits bent on reversing the franchise's downward spiral. And, when short-fused manager George Knox (portrayed by Danny Glover) begins believing in what Roger sees, the team suddenly has hope for turning their season around--and Roger and J.P. find something to believe in. Glover in particular gives a nice performance, and Tony Danza, playing a washed-up pitcher, also does well, despite clearly having ZERO idea of how to pitch out of the windup!