Movie Monday: Major League II 1994

Posted on April 1, 2019 Updated on July 17, 2020

Major League II Image One — Photo Credit: tmdb.org

Twenty-five years ago, today, the #1 film at the box office was Major League II, a sports-comedy starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Corbin Bernsen, Dennis Haysbert, James Gammon, Omar Epps, Alison Doody, David Keith, Bob Uecker, Jay Leno (as himself), Jesse Ventura (as himself), Randy Quaid (uncredited) and Rene Russo (uncredited). Released on March 30, it was a sequel to Major League (1989). David Ward directed both and most of the same cast remained. Omar Epps replaced Wesley Snipes in the role of Willie Mays Hayes.

IMDB Summary:

After winning the division the previous year, the Cleveland Indians return the following season with a new-found confidence. Their previously ragtag players are now stars. Roger Dorn has gone from player to owner, removing the unhealthy management and influence of Rachel Phelps. New players have been contracted and the team roster looks stronger than ever. What could possibly go wrong?

Major League II Image Two — Image Credit: imdb.com

Quote
From Peter Rainer (Los Angeles Times):

Except for the fact that it was a commercial hit, the 1989 baseball movie “Major League” was not the sort of film that cried out to be sequelized. But, a lot can happen in five years…for one thing, baseball movies seem to be hanging in there. So, here’s another go-round with the cloddy, come-from-behind Cleveland Indians sluggers who once again stumble in pursuit of the American League Eastern Division championship. Bob Uecker, as the Indians’ perpetually bedraggled play-by-play radio announcer, puts in another appearance, dressing down from his Liberace-like duds to a T-shirt as the Indians slide into the cellar. (His aghast expostulations are the film’s highlight.) We learn all sorts of homiletic life lessons about the value of sportsmanship and Being True to Yourself. Why do sports movies always have to devolve into civics lessons? To its credit, “Major League II” doesn’t go in for a lot of moony sentiment about America’s past-time but, it ends up tenderized anyway.

Trivia Bits:
♦ Opened the same weekend as D2:The Mighty Ducks, a sports comedy sequel which starred Charlie Sheen’s brother Emilio Estevez.
♦ In the outfield during their second game there is a sign that says “Emilio’s Repo Depot“. Charlie Sheen’s brother Emilio Estevez was in the movie Repo Man (1984).
♦ One of two films released in 1994 to feature the Chicago White Sox as the arch-rival team. The other was Angels In The Outfield.

Award
♠ Worst Sequel (David S. Ward & James G. Robinson/1994 The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards)

Nomination
♠ The Sequel Nobody Was Clamoring For (David S. Ward & James G. Robinson/1994 The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards)

This entry was posted in Movies and tagged alison doody, bob uecker, charlie sheen, corbin bernsen, david keith, david ward, dennis haysbert, IMDb, james gammon, jay leno, jesse ventura, latimes, major league II, omar epps, peter rainer, randy quaid, rene russo, the stinkers bad movie awards, tmdb, tom berenger, wesley snipes, worst sequel.

8 thoughts on “Movie Monday: Major League II 1994”

badfinger20 said:
April 2, 2019 at 12:52 AM

It didn’t halfway compare to the original but it still had Wild Thing! I was bummed they replaced Willie May Hayes. The original is one of the best baseball movies.

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The Hinoeuma responded:
April 2, 2019 at 1:23 AM

Yeah. Wesley had committed to something else. One of the trivia pieces was Wesley being 27 in the first movie and Epps being 21 in the second one…Hayes aged backwards. LOL!

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hanspostcard said:
April 2, 2019 at 4:32 AM

I never saw the sequel. The original was stupid but funny and entertaining. My favorite character was Harry Doyle “Just a little outside.” If I remember correctly the movie filmed in Milwaukee…. The Indians were terrible back in those days- and had been for a couple decades.

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The Hinoeuma responded:
April 2, 2019 at 3:13 PM

Heh. Yeah. Uecker went off script with that, with Ward’s encouragement. He also dabbed whiskey behind his ears…also off script.

Yep. Milwaukee. Summer of 1988. Uecker had been the radio guy for the Brewers for 20 years.

Ward made the movie because he was an Indians fan. He figured it was the only way to see his team win.

Bit of personal trivia: My hometown had the Indians minor league team…Burlington Indians when I was in college.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington_Royals

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hanspostcard said:
April 2, 2019 at 4:40 PM

Did you go to any games? Any future major leaguers on those Burlington teams?

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The Hinoeuma responded:
April 2, 2019 at 6:43 PM

I went to several. They were an Indians affiliate from ’85 to ’06. I left the state in 2000. If there were any MLers, I wouldn’t know. I never really followed anyone. I’m sure there are stats somewhere.

The other group I’ve loved to go to is Durham Bulls, another team that made it into the movies. I will be at some games this spring/summer/fall. 😉

I’ve followed this guy:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=180961

I’ve never been an MLB fan but, if this area had an MLB team, I’d be there. The Bulls are so much fun to watch. And, they aren’t ridiculously expensive.

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