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IMDbPro

The Perfect Game

  • 20092009
  • PGPG
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
The Perfect Game (2009)
A group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico become the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series.
Play trailer2:40
24 Videos
74 Photos
ComedyDramaFamily
Based on a true story, a group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico who became the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series.Based on a true story, a group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico who became the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series.Based on a true story, a group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico who became the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Dear
  • Writer
    • W. William Winokur(book)
  • Stars
    • Clifton Collins Jr.
    • Cheech Marin
    • Moises Arias
  • Director
    • William Dear
  • Writer
    • W. William Winokur(book)
  • Stars
    • Clifton Collins Jr.
    • Cheech Marin
    • Moises Arias
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos24

    The Perfect Game
    Trailer 2:40
    Watch The Perfect Game
    The Perfect Game: Jansen Panettiere
    Clip 1:05
    Watch The Perfect Game: Jansen Panettiere
    The Perfect Game: Ryan Ochoa
    Clip 0:46
    Watch The Perfect Game: Ryan Ochoa
    The Perfect Game: Press Conference
    Clip 0:43
    Watch The Perfect Game: Press Conference
    The Perfect Game: First Out
    Clip 0:45
    Watch The Perfect Game: First Out
    The Perfect Game: Ryan Ochoa
    Clip 0:46
    Watch The Perfect Game: Ryan Ochoa
    The Perfect Game: Jake T. Austin
    Clip 1:19
    Watch The Perfect Game: Jake T. Austin
    The Perfect Game: Jansen Panettiere
    Clip 1:05
    Watch The Perfect Game: Jansen Panettiere
    The Perfect Game: Catch
    Clip 0:56
    Watch The Perfect Game: Catch
    The Perfect Game: Scouting The Team
    Clip 0:46
    Watch The Perfect Game: Scouting The Team
    The Perfect Game: Dedicated Prayers
    Clip 0:45
    Watch The Perfect Game: Dedicated Prayers
    The Perfect Game: Wilted Flowers
    Clip 0:59
    Watch The Perfect Game: Wilted Flowers

    Photos74

    Cheech Marin, Clifton Collins Jr., and Moises Arias in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Clifton Collins Jr. and Jansen Panettiere in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Clifton Collins Jr. in The Perfect Game (2009)
    The Perfect Game (2009)
    Patricia Manterola in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Cheech Marin, Clifton Collins Jr., Jansen Panettiere, and Moises Arias in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Cheech Marin and Clifton Collins Jr. in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Emilie de Ravin in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Louis Gossett Jr. and Jake T. Austin in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Clifton Collins Jr. in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Clifton Collins Jr. and Jake T. Austin in The Perfect Game (2009)
    Jansen Panettiere in The Perfect Game (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Clifton Collins Jr.
    Clifton Collins Jr.
    • Cesar Faz
    Cheech Marin
    Cheech Marin
    • Padre Esteban
    Moises Arias
    Moises Arias
    • Mario Ontiveros
    Jake T. Austin
    Jake T. Austin
    • Angel Macias
    Jansen Panettiere
    Jansen Panettiere
    • Enrique Suarez
    Ryan Ochoa
    Ryan Ochoa
    • Norberto Villarreal
    Gabriel Morales
    Gabriel Morales
    • Ricardo Treviño
    Carlos Padilla
    • Baltazar Charles
    • (as Carlos Padilla Lenero)
    Tony Revolori
    Tony Revolori
    • Fidel Ruiz
    • (as Anthony Quinonez)
    Mario Revolori
    Mario Revolori
    • Gerardo Gonzalez
    • (as Mario Quinonez Jr.)
    Alfredo Rodríguez
    • Jose 'Pepe' Maiz
    • (as Alfredo Rodriguez)
    Emilie de Ravin
    Emilie de Ravin
    • Frankie Stevens
    Bruce McGill
    Bruce McGill
    • Mr. Tanner
    Patricia Manterola
    Patricia Manterola
    • Maria
    David Koechner
    David Koechner
    • Mac Thompkins
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    • Cool Papa Bell
    Frances Fisher
    Frances Fisher
    • Betty
    Carlos Gómez
    Carlos Gómez
    • Umberto Macias
    • (as Carlos Gomez)
    • Director
      • William Dear
    • Writer
      • W. William Winokur(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the Little League World Series championship game against La Mesa, real Monterrey player José "Pepe" Maiz and Angel Macias along with La Mesa player Joe McKirahan made cameo appearances as fans watching the game.
    • Goofs
      At the final game, the American flag shown has 50 stars. In 1957 (when the film takes place), Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states. They were granted statehood in 1959, so the flag shown should have had 48 stars.
    • Quotes

      Frankie Stevens: You know, you say that one more time I will punch you in the nose.

      Mac Thompkins: Been a while since I fought a woman.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Kick-Ass/The Secret in Their Eyes/The Perfect Game/The Joneses (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Someone Like You
      Written by Guy Fletcher & Rod Williams

    User reviews37

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    They've never seen real grass…The Perfect Game
    The film The Perfect Game is a great story of the underdog defeating adversity at home and in public. This young team of Mexicans band together against all odds to form a Little League team in Monterey to be entered into the 1957 competition against the powerhouses of 12-year old baseball Americans. Not only must they overcome a novice at best skill at the game—helped enormously by their ex-Major League towel boy turned coach—but also the bigotry and racism of a segregated America not yet ready to see foreigners from below the southern border hand their precious kids a lesson in humility. Standing on its own, the story is quite the tale and intriguing at every turn. However, this is not a book, it is a visual medium and in that respect doesn't live up to the quality of its plot. A made-for-TV movie at best, this film is very heavy-handed and way too feel-good for anyone with a brain hoping to find something that may stimulate a cell up there in his skull. Laughable in its saccharine drenched contrivances and score's orchestral swells just begging to elicit sentimental tears, the Lifetime movie of the week quality definitely distracted this viewer, one who was intent on learning a story and seeing it all play out, not just to watch close-ups of pouting boys and cheesy smiles.

    Don't get me wrong, people looking for the uplifting story of success, when no one gave them a chance, will be very pleased. The amount of applause DURING the screening proves that point as viewers definitely get invested in these types of tales. For me, however, I need a little more, some real stakes that at times showed face—the coach's drunken misstep that risks deporting them all due to expired visas—but mostly just bridge us to the next heartfelt moment. Stereotypes and clichés abound leading me to tell you all to make sure you check your mind at the door; it will not be needed. I don't want to fault any of the acting, except of course Emilie de Ravin's atrocious accent that made me want to wring her neck, because it isn't bad considering the script and material. Clifton Collins Jr. is a favorite of mine and while at times is very out of his element playing off of a troupe of children, brings some of his standard brood and contemplative thinking. Used to playing psychotics, whether extreme as in Rules of Attraction or introverted as in Capote, casting him as the coach finding his heart again is a bold choice. For the most part it is a gamble that pays off.

    As for the rest of the cast, I was completely thrown off by the amount of familiar faces being that I truly had not even heard of the film before being given the preview pass. Stalwarts like Bruce McGill, John Cothran Jr., Frances Fisher, and Chris Mulkey all make appearances alongside Louis Gossett Jr., (talk about a blast from the past). Even David Koechner reins in his annoyance for a decent cameo that brings a couple laughs. However, the kids definitely become the heart of the tale. Head-shaking for the fact that "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere's younger brother Jansen is playing a Mexican aside, the kids are very cute and fun to spend time with. You have your common traits for each to overcome and be friends despite of them, as well as the father/son dynamic needed to bring the heavy emotion. Unfortunately the chasm between Papa Macias and his last living son is so huge and so front and center, the inevitable reconciliation is so obvious that it loses all impact it might have had.

    A warning must be said as well concerning the make-up of the film. Yes, there are many montages and time lapses to save time, however, you experience a ton of baseball. Whether an inning or abridged games in their entirety, director William Dear shows a little piece of each stop to the championship. The cuts are quick and often, so I wouldn't be surprised if much of the actual baseball action was faked, but they do their job to portray what was being done. A family film from start to finish, I was the least bit surprised to find that Dear also helmed Angels in the Outfield. More life-affirming tale then sports flick, don't be afraid to take your young ones to a movie even though it stars Cheech Marin. Long gone are his Cheech and Chong days, playing the priest that starts the seed of baseball in the small Mexican town, Marin brings some subtle chuckles, but mostly plays the rock opposite Collins Jr.'s conflicted hero. Never surprising at any moment, The Perfect Game may not be brilliance at the movies, but for what it is, you could do much worse than partake in a courageous true story while sitting through the candy-coated exuberance of it all.
    helpful•33
    21
    • jaredmobarak
    • Jul 24, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 16, 2010 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Official sites
      • Official distributor's site for the film. (Spain)
      • Official Producer's site for the film. (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • El juego perfecto
    • Filming locations
      • Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • IndustryWorks Pictures
      • HighRoad Entertainment
      • Prelude Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,037,071
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $511,698
      • Apr 18, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,878,993
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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