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Major League II
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Major League II (1994) is a sequel to the 1989 film Major League. Major league II stars most of the same cast from the original, including Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Corbin Bernsen. The film also welcomes some new faces to the team. Omar Epps replaced Wesley Snipes as the character Willie 'Mays' Hayes. David Keith is a superstar catcher who is looking to replace Jake (Berenger) as the starter. Takaaki Ishibashi of Japanese comedic duo Tunnels is a new outfielder Isuro Tanaka, who helps excite the team. Eric Bruskotter is the rookie catcher Rube Baker who is getting used to the MLB life.
Taglines:
- The dream team is back!
- America's favorite team is back!
Contents
- 1 Background
- 2 Synopsis
- 3 Cast
- 4 Trivia
- 5 See also
- 6 External links
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Background
The film was directed by
David S Ward, who also directed the first installment of the
Major League series, in addition to other films, such as
The Program and
Down Periscope. In addition to Sheen, Berenger, Bernsen, Epps, Keith, and Ishibashi,
Major League II has an additional cast of
Dennis Haysbert,
James Gammon,
Bob Uecker, and
Margaret Whitton.
The film touches on the follow up season of the Cleveland Indians successful season in the first film. It is revealed that the team and many of its players have went through many changes and are completely different from their prior selves. New relationships are also revealed in the film which have affected the people in these relationships.
The film was released in March of 1994 and eventually gross over $30 million at the U.S. box office. The film and its sequel Major League: Back to the Minors were not as well received as the first film, which is considered by many now to be a classic of some sorts. The film has many cameo appearances by current and former MLB players such as Steve Yeager. The film also has cameos by several entertainers such as Jesse Ventura and Randy Quaid.
The film was shot at various locations in Baltimore, Maryland, Chicago, Illinois, Cleveland, Ohio, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Various sports stadiums were also used in filming, including Memorial Stadium, and U.S. Cellular Field (then called Comiskey Park) in Chicago.
Because the film was created after the Indians last season at
Cleveland Stadium,
Oriole Park at Camden Yards was used.
Synopsis
The Cleveland Indians are at it again. After it is revealed that the team lost in the ALCS the previous year, bigger plans are in mind with the organization. There are new problems however, as Rick 'Wild Thing' Vaughn seems to have lost his touch, Pedro Cerrano has become extra friendly (due to his apparent conversion to Zen Buddhism), Willie 'Mays' Hayes has become Hollywood, and a slough of new characters threaten team chemistry. Will the Indians hold up or will it be a first to worst scenario? This and more are answered in the follow up to the 1989 hit Major League, Major League II.
Cast
- Rick 'Wild Thing' Vaughn (Charlie Sheen): The star pitcher of the Cleveland Indians in the first film has lost his edge and has become more business-like and professional in both appearance and personality. His new girlfriend (Alison Doody) is responsible for this transformation and Vaughn has lost his distinct haircut, endorses products such as Right Guard deodorant, and he even names his pitches. This change affects his game negatively and his old girlfriend (Michelle Burke) helps him regain his former edge. As before, his signature entrance is set to a hard rock cover of The Troggs' hit song "Wild Thing".
- Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger): The aging catcher in the first film returns in the same spot he was in during the previous one, trying to make the team one last time. He fails to make the team as a player and is instead hired as an assistant manager. He becomes the leader of the club when the manager, Lou Brown, falls ill and is stationed in the hospital.
- Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen): The third baseman in the first film is now the new owner of the Cleveland Indians, having recently purchased the team from Rachel Phelps. He is unsuccessful as the owner trading away great talent and posting billboards in the outfield to save money and make the payroll. He ends up selling the team back to Phelps after he no longer can manage the team and it begins doing poorly again.
- Pedro Cerrano (Dennis Haysbert): The voodoo practicing slugger from the first film has found peace within himself and the world thanks to his conversion to Buddhism and refuses to get angry at others for whatever mistakes they may make. This is shown at the beginning of the film when Rube Baker squirts shaving cream on Cerrano's shoe and Cerrano replies with a smile, pat, and "I love you man, I love you all!" When Isuro Tanaka is introduced to the team he helps spark Cerrano by constantly taunting him.
- Lou Brown (James Gammon): Lou returns as the manager of the team, the same nonchalant person who gives in to no player on the team. He experiences a heart attack when yelling at players in the locker room and Jake Taylor takes over the managing duties while he is in the hospital.
- Willie 'Mays' Hayes (Omar Epps): Epps reprises the role that Snipes played in the first film. In the first film, Hayes was somewhat narcissistic and has only become worse. He has begun an acting career, he hits for power instead of speed, and has an entourage. He gets a leg injury during the season which keeps him on the bench. People begin to question the injury and a fight ensues between members of the team. It is after this that Hayes returns to old form. (Hayes' desire to be an action movie star may in fact be a reference to Wesley Snipes' inability to return for the sequel. After the original movie, Snipes went on to star in action movies like Passenger 57, Rising Sun, and Demolition Man.)
- Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker): Doyle returns as quick-witted Indians radio announcer who enjoys drinking Jack Daniel's whiskey while calling the games. He constantly makes fun of the team and its actions with sarcasm and one-liners.
- Jack Parkman (David Keith): Parkman is a superstar catcher that the Indians acquired through free agency. He is very cocky and brash. He believes he is the best player on the team and is not afraid to reveal this to the media or other members of the team. He is traded to the Chicago White Sox during the season and ends up facing his old team in the ALCS.
- Isuro Tanaka (Takaaki Ishibashi): Tanaka is acquired in part of the deal that sent Parkman to Chicago. He speaks very little English and uses a dictionary to look up certain translations. He's full of energy and provides a spark for the Indians eventually, most notably Pedro Cerrano.
- Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton): Phelps returns as the owner of the team. It is revealed during the beginning of the film she sold the team to Roger Dorn but she buys it back once the Indians begin to struggle. She is very interested in her original plan of relocating the team to Florida, so she indeed wants them to fail.
- Rube Baker (Eric Bruskotter): Baker is a new rookie catcher on the Indians. He is from small town America and is not accustomed to the major league baseball life. Jake Taylor is in charge of guiding his career. Baker is made the starter when Parkman is traded away to the Chicago White Sox. Has a problem involving not being able to throw the ball back to the mound properly (this was based in part on the real-life problems that plagued former New York Mets catcher Mackey Sasser). This problem was solved with the aid of Playboy and a Frederick's of Hollywood catalog.
- Nikki Reese (Michelle Burke): Reese is an old girlfriend of Vaughn. She is in charge of a program for under-privileged children. She eventually helps Vaughn get his edge back and abandon his new look.
Trivia
Despite portraying the Cleveland Indians, Major League II' was filmed predominately in Baltimore, Maryland. Their new stadium in the film was the Baltimore Orioles' home park of Camden Yards. Like in the movie, Camden Yards was then a new stadium.
See also
