Lionsgate's 'Perfect Game': Bumped to season's end?

Ever since I took my baseball-crazed 10-year-old and his pals to see a screening of Lionsgate's "The Perfect Game," he's been urging all his Little League buddies to see the movie, which does a nice job of telling the soul-stirring story of a ragtag bunch of kids from Monterrey, Mexico who assemble a Little League team that--shockingly--wins the 1957 Little League World Series. It feels like a fable, but it's actually a true story, with the poverty-stricken kids overcoming all sorts of obstacles and blatant prejudice to win 13 consecutive games, the last one a perfect game, hence the title.

There's only one problem: Lionsgate has suddenly bumped the movie from its Aug. 8 release date and won't say when the film will be released. It's rarely a good sign when a studio bails out of a release date at the last moment, especially when it won't say why. All I could get out of a high-level Lionsgate exec was a terse: "The studio expects to have news about a new date soon."

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if Lionsgate is going to release the movie, it will have to do so by mid-October, which would be the height of major league playoff time. It may be that Lionsgate is experiencing some growing pains as it has ramped up its release schedule, which seems to have another "Saw" sequel and a new Tyler Perry project every other month. (The studio just signed a new deal with Perry, who's been a consistent box-office performer.) Before moving "The Perfect Game," the studio had three movies in August, four movies in September and three more scheduled for release in October, including Oliver Stone's much-anticipated "W." For a small-sized studio like Lionsgate, three or four movies in a month is quite a crowd.

I'm hoping Lionsgate will do right by "The Perfect Game." It's a movie with a lot of heart and a great young cast of kids, whom my son's friends all somehow recognized from their appearances on various Disney Channel shows. For us oldsters, it has Cheech Marin as a twinkly-eyed Monterrey parish priest who makes sure the boys always have a guardian angel watching over their shoulders.

For baseball purists, here's an extended trailer from the film that features some great vintage footage from the glory days of '50s baseball:

       

Comments

[Kevin Tyras]

More movies should be made like this. I hope the movie is released soon and it helps slow down all the hate out there. I'm very suspicious of why it was suddenly delayed.

[Elle Wells]

Three possibilities that you haven't mentioned:

Angel Macias and others on the Monterey team were several years older than they had reported to Little League Officials; and older than any other Little Leaguers.

Several of the La Mesa, California team were hospitalized in Williamsport PA for Asian Flu just prior to the final game and were forced to Play or Forfeit. They were sneaked (in some cased) from the hospital and played the game.

8/8/8 is a tough day to open with the Olympics (and all).

[benji]

Elle: I agree with you on the Olympics point - this is the main reason I think they've delayed the release, personally. But I hardly think they would refrain from releasing a movie they've entirely paid for, filmed, and produced simply because they got sudden cold feet about some facts that would take from the story's glory; as such, I'm not entirely sure why you brought those up, unless you simply meant to rain on a good film's parade.

[Ted Sanchez]

I have waited fourty eight years for this film, I was ten ten when it was shown on TV. The original was deffonaltly an insperation for me as a child . I hope this wil do the same for todays youth.

[Ted Sanchez]

I have waited forty eight years for this film, I saw the original on TV when I was ten. I was definitely inspired by this movie as a child I hope this will do the same for todays youth.

[D Deli]

All interesting comments. However, it should be noted that Angel Macias turned 63 this year. That would have made him 12 in 1957. I know a majority of the team personally and have spent time with all of the surviving members of the La Mesa team. No one was forced to play and no one was over age. You can confirm this with the Little League Association.

[Frankie]

America always love a great underdog story, especially when it's about
baseball! I hope they release it soon because it will inspire a lot of kids,
inclulding 3 of my own, to always look at the possibilities in life without
any obstacles holding them back. Release the film soon-do it for the kids
and those of us that still hold on to our childhood dreams!

[Evan]

Another very insprational baseball movie that hasn't gotten much publicity was The Final Season. It came out last fall and stars Sean Astin, Powers Boothe and Tom Arnold.

It was actually recommended by Little League Baseball, and I know many kids really loved the movie.

Hope this one gets out soon!

[john gomes]

Its sad that a movie based on a true story that portrays latino kids as heroes and in a positive light has to be yanked so easily. Maybe if it was a movie about kids in a latin gang gang with some killings, drugs,etc. and made latinos look stereotypical as always, it might have seen the light of day. Latino wave crashes yet again....we haven't progressed....not a bit....

[Little Red]

Well, I saw a screening of this film, and... I wanted to walk out after about 20 minutes. It was awful. Every little sports cliche you can think of was squeezed in. It was like someone with no baseball knowledge read a book about baseball, and made a movie. It was that bad.

[Lisa M]

Maybe the real reason the film is not coming out according to another article in LA Times today...someone didn't pay up as promissed?
* Last week's planned release of the baseball movie "The Perfect Game" was delayed by marketing monies pledged (but not delivered, according to Lionsgate) to the company by a third party. The movie currently doesn't have a release date, but Lionsgate hopes to release it before October's World Series.

[Baseball Mom]

While away @ our State Baseball tournament, we took my son's team (8 & 9 year olds) to the movies. They showed the trailer of The Perfect Game. The boys have been anxiuosly awaiting it ever since. I was hoping to take them to see it this weekend.. .for my son's birthday party. He is very disappointed that the opening was "delayed" What's up Lion's Gate? Now would be the best timing. . we've been watching this year's World Series and the kids are really psyched to see the movie!

[Baseball Junky]

My kids have been waiting for this movie ever since they saw the previews back in August. Specially my oldest son being a little league player himself, his eyes lid up of joy to know that he was going to learn about history. It is really ashame this is happening with such a great film.

[Mikaela]

This is really sad, and a shame to Lionsgate. Most people think this movie is only appealing to boys but it is really appealing to girls (like me) too. Since they pulled back the release date almost everyday i have checked online to see when this film is coming out. It should even be on DVD or be coming out to DVD soon by now. If someone finds out the release date will u please post it, thanks.

[ALE]

I wanna see this movie so bad, i saw the trailer
and it seems to be a good movie, whats wrong
with LIONSGATE? c'mon

[Mike]

Whats up with this movie? I have been waiting since August after seeing the previews to watch it. It looked great... When is it coming out? I'm becoming suspicious about Lion Gate, what is the real story behind this movie not coming out?

[JP Fantuzzo]

I played baseball from the time I was 5 years old here in Ashland, Kentucky. We won a Little League State Championship when I was twelve. I played all the way through high school and college. My father also coached my brother's 13 year old Babe Ruth which won a state championship in 1994 and went all the way to the Babe Ruth World Series, which has never been done in this area. We are a really big baseball oriented family. I remember as I was growing up and through all my years of playing ball that my teamates and I were always inspired by these same types of movies. It tought us that we could accomplish the same things. I was never brought up to look at the difference between color of skin or teams from a different area or country. We were tought that this is a great game to play and that you could learn a lot from different people from different areas and different culture. I think that if Lions Gate doesn't want to release it, they should sell it to another buyer or someone should step up and offer to buy it. It could inspire young players to dream. That should be the main focus here. Some people may think the movie may be poor, but it may touch many more. Just like God said: "We have to plant the seed".

[james georgia]

I think we have to call the producer of this movie and let him or them know that we want to see this movie" the perfect game 2008". RELEASE THIS MOVIE!!!
tHIS IS A GREAT SPORT'S STORY.ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE READ OR KNOWN.

[ric]

This story about real kids who were inspired to do something wonderful & were thought of as hero's. Stereotypes come from reality. If the Latino community took they're gang bangers and changed them into...say.. bankers, they would be thought of as executives. None of these kids broke into a country.......They didn't need to...We respect them for no other reason than THEY EARNED IT. This is a wonderful film....see it....

[Martin]

I had spent more than 5 hours looking for places to rent, buy or download the movie until i found this blog. At least i thank you for sharing the actual reason of this movie not being available. If money is the issue, from the number of comments i've seen here, there would be enough people in this country (i know i am) that would be willing to "chip in" and send a small contribution so that this movie can finally get to the masses and inspire a lot of kids and adults alike.... they would probably collect more than enough of what they need $ for marketing. Isn't it ironic? while the movie doesn't change what happened in 1957 and those kids' accomplishment, it seems like that team always have to face 'obstacle' in their way. I just hope they release it while these kids (now old men) are still in good physical condition to see it and enjoy it...