by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Do you miss seeing baseball movies coming to the big screen? In the ‘70s, and then into the ‘80s and ‘90s, baseball was THE sport to be featured in film. There is something magical and truly cinematic about it, that making it perfectly suited to movies. The limited focus at any given moment allows a filmmaker to craft and build tension. That is why it is so refreshing to see You Gotta Believe come to a theaters.
How does director Ty Roberts’ film stack up against some of the best of all time? You can tell that screenwriter Lane Garrison has an appreciation for The Bad New Bears, but maybe not all the swearing and vulgar talk. The underdog tale of a little league team certainly speaks to people. There are a few more dramatic elements that stand out in You Gotta Believe. Luke Wilson plays a beloved coach and father who finds out he has terminal cancer. This inspires a ragtag team of misfits to play for his recovery, and this sparks the motivation for them to finally step up. But their motivation to do right by their newfound brotherhood is also a moving and poignant wrinkle to the story. This was almost certainly pitched as a faith-based film, but Roberts luckily does not rely too heavily on those elements — faith is naturally incorporated into the whole story.
But is everything so fresh when it comes to You Gotta Believe? It really borrows a lot from films like The Bad New Bears when it comes to how the team’s rise is framed, and even how this journey all plays out in the end. This is not the type of movie that is really going to surprise you. There are some tropes that feel incredibly tired, even having a wise Black pitcher saving the day when it comes to mentoring the team’s young pitcher. The action of the game feels familiar, and Roberts doesn’t really find new ways to make the playing feel fresh either.
Can the cast help make this familiar story feel worthwhile? There are some strong core performances that make this film impactful. The film needs a strong turn from the actor who is portraying this dying coach, and Wilson is up for the task. He is endlessly endearing and kind, and that is all that Wilson really needs to deliver on to make the audience get behind his journey, as well as the journey of the kids. Greg Kinnear is one of the most reliable character actors in the business, and he does not disappoint as the other coach who must step up and focus on leading this team to victory. The sequences with their wives could have easily felt superfluous, but the performances from Sarah Gadon and Molly Parker add some extra impact. The whole team of kids does a fine job selling the ragtag crew of players which is essential to the film’s success.
Is You Gotta Believe the motivational sports film of recent years? Roberts brings so much heart and soul to the film, and that hits. A strong cast goes a long way in making it feel impactful and relatable. The nice dash of faith makes for a moving story that can really inspire some people as well. You Gotta Believe will not surprise anyone with its common sports movie tropes, but it is still a worthwhile story.
Rating: Liked It
You Gotta Believe is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd