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Mr. 3000 [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)


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The plot has its weak spots, but this is one funny movie
Review date: 2005-08-05 Rating: 8 out of 10

Personally, I'm really not sure why Mr. 3000 doesn't get better ratings from viewers. When you talk about a straight-up comedy, the first question you have to answer is: was it funny? If it's funny, it's a good comedy, and Mr. 3000 is funny. I'm not saying the movie couldn't have been better. Some elements of the plot are weak and needlessly bothersome, the main character's growth as a person was a little weebly-wobbly, and - worst of all - an effective ending is somewhat marred by the fact that what happens could basically never actually happen in a game of major league baseball. On paper, the movie probably wouldn't deserve more than three stars; the main character's ego makes for a character you might have a hard time pulling for - but, thanks to the casting director, Bernie Mac landed that plum role, and he pretty much saves the script single-handedly. You can't help but like Bernie Mac; he's so naturally funny and entertaining that people would probably buy tickets just to sit and watch him sit in front of a dryer waiting for his clothes to dry.

The premise of this film is rather simple. Stan Ross (Bernie Mac) was a rather arrogant, obnoxious baseball player who left baseball as soon as he got his 3000th hit - leaving his Brewers teammates right in the middle of a clutch drive to the playoffs. Reporters and sports talking heads have no use for him at all (for good reason), but the fans still seem to like him. He does well for himself after baseball, opening up all sorts of "3000" stores, building his whole life around his Mr. 3000 persona. Nine years after retiring, he still hasn't made it into the Hall of Fame, though (and when he boasts that 3000 hits should basically guarantee you a place in Cooperstown, he's telling the truth); he's close, though, having come up only four votes short the year before. Then disaster strikes in the form of a fact check of his records; it turns out that one of his three-hit games was actually counted twice. In an instant, Mr. 3000 has suddenly become Mr. 2997. Thus, at age 47, Ross dons the uniform again and sets out to get the three hits that will reestablish himself as Mr. 3000 and hopefully win him that long overdue invitation to Cooperstown.

At first, it's all about Ross' ego. Never a team player, Ross insults his new teammates before he even suits up, and then he proceeds to go 0-for-everything at the plate. As time goes on, though, Ross begins to change - although his ego is never far away and keeps returning from time to time. He finally gets a hit, and the Brewers start to actually win some games. Naturally, both Ross' personal and professional paths converge on the final game of the season. Sure, the ending is a little predictable, but there's nothing wrong with an ending that makes you feel good.

It's amazing how you can hardly go wrong with a baseball movie. Sure, the sport can be a little boring to watch at times, yet the excitement of each game's pivotal moments can be electrifying, and there were a couple of such electrifying moments in this movie. More importantly, though, Mr. 3000 made me laugh out loud on several occasions, and that is the main reason I consider the film a very successful comedy.

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Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Brian J. White
Angela Bassett
Ian Anthony Dale
Michael Rispoli
Bernie Mac

Creators:
Bernie Mac (Primary Contributor)
Angela Bassett (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
EAN: 9780788858154
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 0788858157
Number of items: 1
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2005-02-01
Universal product code (UPC): 786936242829
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2004-09-17
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: French (Dubbed)

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