THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 3, 1994 TAG: 9410010040
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
``THE SCOUT'' IS surprising on several levels. For one thing, it is neither an outright comedy nor an outright baseball movie.
The TV ads suggest it's a laugh riot, emphasizing the baseball scenes. There are, indeed, a few laughs and there are two on-field episodes, but neither is really the point.
What we have here is a relationship drama - a two-character study played by two rather good actors.
Albert Brooks, clad in straw hat and polyester trousers, is a down-on-his-luck Yankees scout who has been relegated to the boonies - way down in Mexico no less. His most recent discovery was a good player, but he got so scared in the big time that he threw up on the mound and fled Yankee stadium. As punishment, Lane Smith (a University of North Carolina grad) uses his power as Yankees general manager to demote him.
In Mexico, he finds an amazing pitching powerhouse, a guy who can throw at 120 mph and hits a home run every time. There's a goat on third base and cantinas on the sidelines, but a star is born.
Back in New York, the baseball world goes wild. Steve Nebraska, the new star, gets a multimillion dollar deal but, hold on, he acts kind of silly. He's childish. He's wacky. Could there be something wrong with him? He doesn't like press attention. When he goes to a nightclub, he stands up and sings Tony Bennett hits so badly that it even drives Tony Bennett away.
Yankees management demands a psychological test. Brooks finds a doctor called H. Aaron and, in deference to the baseball moniker, hires her. She's played by Dianne Wiest, and she immediately finds that Steve is ``disconnected'' and must have further treatment.
Brendan Fraser, one of the brightest of today's emerging stars, turns in yet-another fine performance in the difficult role of Steve Nebraska, easily stealing the film from the overrated Brooks. Yes, there is a little of Forrest Gump in this character - lost innocence, naivete, loneliness.
The movie is fed by the psychological mystery of what is wrong with Steve anyway. We would have liked more scenes with Wiest and more clues. We are never given easy answers.
In the end, we can only guess that Steve was abused somewhere in his past and that he badly needs a father figure. He has adopted the Albert Brooks character - a fact that threatens Brooks. This scout is reluctant to become a father. Here we have two loners, both of whom need each other but are reluctant to make the moves.
Baseball fans will be able to spot a few real-life players, as well as Yankees owner and chief executive George M. Steinbrenner III, who contributes a surprisingly effective bit that amounts to an actual role, not just a cameo.
Director Michael Ritchie is a veteran of competitive sports ranging from politics (``The Candidate'') to beauty pageants (``Smile'') and more conventional (``Downhill Racer,'' ``Semi-Tough'' and ``The Bad News Bears''). Here, he puts the game in the background, effectively using it as the basis for an intriguing character-relationship search. Fraser's performance makes it worthwhile. ILLUSTRATION: ``The Scout''
Rated: PG-13
Starring Brendan Fraser, Albert Brooks
Mal's rating: ***
20TH CENTURY FOX
Brendan Fraser stars as Steve Nebraska in "The Scout."
MOVIE REVIEW
``The Scout''
Director: Michael Ritchie
Screenplay: Andrew Bergman
MPAA rating: PG-13 (little that could be defensive, some language
but hardly dugout chatter)
Locations: Chesapeake Square in Chesapeake, Janaf in Norfolk,
Kempsriver, Lynnhaven, Pembroke, Surf-N- Sand in Virginia Beach
20TH CENTURY FOX
``The Scout'' explores the relationship between Brendan Fraser,
left, and Albert Brooks.
by CNB