The Scout | | Cast : | Albert Brooks, Brendan Fraser | | Director : | Michael Ritchie | | Studio : | Twentieth Century Fox | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | September 30, 1994 | | DVD Released Date : | February 03, 2004 | | Language : | English (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 25, 2005 | | Summary | Brooks hits a home run! | Content
 | This film was better than I expected. When I saw Albert Brooks in it I expected to see his usual self absorbed, neurotic, west coast Woddy Allen trip. No so. When I looked at the credits I noticed that for the first time (in recent memory) Brooks didn't write, direct, produce, in short forgo his usual Jerry Lewis routine of running the whole show. And in doing so he (excuse the pun here) hit's a home run! He's just great as baseball scout Al Percole who after failing to bring a winner to the Yankees is relegated to the Chili circuit as "punishment" from the Yankee general manager played wonderfully by Lane Smith. But instead of coming up with heartburn from eating the very questionable food (we see people down there chewing on animal legs at games) he discovers Steve Nebraska the greatest ball player since Babe Ruth played oustandingly by Brendan Fraser. Fraser matches Brooks laugh for laugh and in doing so the two make this a very entertaining movie. Not an easy thing to do considering there is not one love interest in either man's life. The movie rests squarely on the "buddy" formula which works very well here. In fact it's more of a father son relationship instead of a bonding buddy movie. So if you like quirky comedy's with the added benefit of a sports theme you're sure to like this one. So run out and rent.....no better make that buy The Scout. I'm sure you're going to want to "catch" this one again and again! |
| Rating | | | Date | April 22, 2005 | | Summary | Will the real 'King Kong' please stand up? | Content
| You don't have to love either Brendan Fraser or Baseball to love this movie! I should know, because I hate baseball, but love Brendan Fraser, and I may just be a tad bit prejudiced when it comes to him.
Although the scout is about Baseball, there isn't much involving the sport except for short blips of Albert Brook looking for his 'King Kong', and the ending sequince when Brendan shows us that he truly is the king of the field. Albert Brook is hilarous as the scout who is hunting for other new protege's for the Yankee's, and Brendan is the young man who he happens to find. In mexico that is. Why he's in Mexico, and how he got there is never really explained. That and if the shrink is really his mom, or just a really concerned lady. Yeah, the story has its holes, but the comedy more than makes up for it.
I won't say anymore, more is less, and in this case its better just to see this movie than hear me explain it.
Let the game begin! |
| Rating | | | Date | April 20, 2005 | | Summary | as usual Brendan Fraser was playing dumb and did it well. | Content
| have you ever noticed that Brendan Fraser is always acting as an idiot? for example: George of the Jungle, Airheads, the Scout, every time he acts downright dumb, but for once it made sense. a scout (Albert Brooks) for the New York Yankees is sent on a grudge trip to mexico after the last player he hired turned out to be a total fluke. there he finds the greatest baseball player that ever lived, Steve Nabraska who choses in the end to play for the Yankees; but before he can play he needs permission from a psychologist that he's not topsy-turvy, which he is, and after his appointment with the doctor he fails, and this is where the movie twists, the dumbness and wildness of Brendan Fraser will have you staring crosseyed at his wackiness. |
| Rating | | | Date | September 20, 2004 | | Summary | Good Actors Do a Lot with a Little; Shoddy Sports Scenes | Content
| "The Scout" starts out with tremendous promise and gradually loses steam as the plot loses focus and several loose ends are not tied up, but the movie's weakest element is its complete lack of authenticity with the baseball action scenes. The project smacks of a Hollywood pitch that never got entirely thought through.
Imagine the filmmaker pitching the studio on this movie. "I've got Albert Brooks, and he's going to be a pompous blowhard of a Yankee baseball scout -- we've already got Steinbrenner on board, as long as he gets a cameo or two -- who uses his sarcasm to mask his underlying insecurity. He snags a kid who he thinks is going to be the next big thing, so we get some classic Brooks wordplay, but the kid upchucks all over the pitcher's mound at Yankee stadium, so -- and get this! -- Brooks gets exiled to Mexico! And after a while in Mexico, he meets the next great ballplayer -- this kid is Ruth meets Clemens! We've got Brendan Frazer -- he's the next big thing, too! -- to play the kid, with a great arm, but he's a loose cannon. And he comes to New York to pitch for the Yankees! So, it's Pygmalion meets Bull Durham meets Broadcast News, but it's got a heart."
And that's as far as the story really goes. The first half-hour of the movie is hilarious as Brooks rises and falls (one of the best lines of the movie, from the exec who exiles Brooks to Central-Southern Mexico), is, "I thought about firing you -- this was better." And Brooks is probably the perfect actor to play an obnoxious New Yorker sitting next to a Mexican baseball fan who is eager to share his ballyard snack, a barbequed pig foot.
As long as Brooks is the focus of the story, "The Scout" works. But unfortunately, the movie should have been called, "The Scout and the Flake," 'cause Brendan Fraser's character, Steve Nebraska (what the heck kind of a name is that?), intrudes. We never learn why he's playing in Mexico, or why he's such a flake, or why he alternates from clueless charm to near-murderous rage, or other similar things. We also don't learn much about the appropriately-named Harriet Aaron, psychiatrist (Dianne Wiesst), whom we think could be Steve's long-lost mother after a couple of Harvard-related hints, but this goes nowhere.
But the movie is still working essentially in these scenes, if only through the strength of the actors -- this is a darn good cast.
The movie really falls apart during the actual baseball scenes. Fraser is clearly an athlete (not everyone could pull off "The Mummy" the way he does), but he equally clearly not a baseball player. His throwing motion is completely unbelievable for a guy who can supposedly throw 100+ miles per hour -- which the movie underscores by never showing a complete wind-up-to-catcher's mitt shot of Steve pitching. Fraser's swing (he's also supposed to hit like Ruth) is also not up to par -- Kevin Costner, Robert Redford, Tom Berenger, and even Tom Selleck have all been much more believable at the plate. The obviously-staged baseball scenes undercut the movie and wipe out whatever suspension of disbelief that you may have developed.
The movie also makes a strange decision at the end. We get a long, drawn-out scene where Steve teeters on the brink of melt-down and Al Brooks tries to save him. Ultimately, Steve ends up on the mound -- which should be the victory/climactic scene. It's never been in question that Steve can throw and hit the ball with the best ever, so the victory was whether he could make it on the mound in the first place. Instead, the movie extends the scene by showing (well, or nearly showing, since we never really see Steve pitch) Steve win the game in historic fashion. This scene just jangled and reminded me that the action scenes are subpar.
Still, fans of Albert Brooks should enjoy this movie for what it is, and fans of young Mr. Fraser will not be disappointed. Overall, a good acting effort with half of a film.
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| Rating | | | Date | July 08, 2003 | | Summary | A real feel-good movie | Content
| "The Scout" is one of those movies that leaves you with a warm feeling in your soul after the video has been turned off. It is the story of a man who finds a friend and triumphs over his fears.
Al Percolo is a New York Yankees scout who is experiencing the worst luck of his life. When his boss sends him to Mexico on a grudge trip, Al discovers "the greatest ballplayer that ever lived": Steve Nebraska. Al manages to land a deal with Steve, but is fired while telling his boss about his great find. When the pair returns to the United States, Steve is promptly snapped up with a $55 million bid from the Yankees. Despite all his success, Steve's world is anything but the fairytale it appears to be. Steve has dangerous idiosyncrasies and an abusive past, which are uncovered as time goes on.
Brendan Fraser plays the part of the slightly eccentric, slightly insecure Steve Nebraska with astounding depth. Albert Brooks is perfect as the cheeky, unyielding scout.
However, Dianne Wiest is much too abrasive as Steve's psychologist, Doctor Aaron. She cannot decide who her character is. One minute she is speaking gently to Al, the next she is glaring and snapping at him. I'm afraid this psychologist might need a psychologist herself!
Despite the heavy subject material, the movie has its light moments. There are several comedic occasions provided by Steve's singing, and I must say, these points alone are reason enough to see the movie. Of course, there is also the inevitable victory, which makes everything beforehand worth it.
What is really refreshing about this movie is how clean it is. There are less than ten profanities in the entire film, and they are the only objectionable content.
"The Scout" is simply a fine piece of work, and a wonderful trip to take from everyday life. |
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