Reel Review: You Gotta Believe (2024)

“You Gotta Believe” is a schmaltzy but sincere, fact-based slice-of-life tribute to the importance of hope and the power of love.

I’m not a serious sports fan, so I wasn’t familiar with the true story behind You Gotta Believe or the source of the title’s inspiration (a famous quote by New York Mets legend Tug McGraw, dad to country music star Tim McGraw).

Some emotional connection to the source material would no doubt strengthen its impact, but knowing or caring about baseball isn’t necessarily a prerequisite to enjoying this fact-based sports drama about a losing Little League team from Fort Worth, Texas, who defied the odds to make their way to the Little League World Series in 2002.

Directed by Ty Roberts and co-written with Lane Garrison, the film stars Luke Wilson as Bobby Ratliff, a coach battling cancer while inspiring his team to achieve the unimaginable.

It takes the staples of the sports genre — the moving biographical drama Pride of the Yankees (1942), the spirited sports comedy The Bad News Bears (1976), the beloved family film The Sandlot (1993), and the “teach you to care” fable The Mighty Ducks (1992) — and puts them all in a blender.

The result is a film that satisfies a particular itch, even if it does feel all too familiar.

Wilson’s Bobby is a devoted father and assistant Little League coach who loves the game and cherishes his time in the dugout. The team’s coach, Jon (Greg Kinnear), is a career-obsessed lawyer who doesn’t care much about coaching despite his son being on the team.

When the team gets a chance to compete for the World Series, taking a spot no one wants because the chance of winning against the league’s heavy hitters is almost non-existent, Jon has no interest in pursuing it. But when tragedy strikes and Bobby gets diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, Jon commits to taking his job as a coach seriously so that Bobby can watch his boys play one last time.

As Bobby fights against impossible odds, his strength and courage inspire the team to push beyond their limitations.

The film effectively captures the spirit of hope and determination that made the real-life story so compelling.

The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of Bobby’s diagnosis, creating a bittersweet narrative that feels grounded and genuine.

Luke Wilson shines as Bobby Ratliff, exuding sincerity and warmth that makes it easy to understand how he could inspire such dedication in his players.

Greg Kinnear delivers an equally appealing performance, while the great Lew Temple (The Walking Dead, The Devil’s Rejects) brings humor, charisma, and authenticity to his role as a no-nonsense coach brought in to whip the team into shape. Temple was a former Minor League baseball player for the Houston Astros before becoming an actor, so his casting here is pitch-perfect.

Director Ty Roberts, his co-screenwriter Lane Garrison, and star Luke Wilson all hail from Texas. They collaborated on this film, which feels very much like a personal story they connected with on a deep level.

The filmmakers treat the story with respect, and the inclusion of actual Little League World Series footage featuring the real people behind the story adds a powerful emotional impact.

However, balancing the uplifting sports narrative with the gravity of Bobby’s cancer diagnosis creates some jarring tonal shifts. It’s also undoubtedly schmaltzy and littered with motivational speeches, trite cliches, and some faith-based messaging that won’t work for everyone. Its characterizations are thin, and its endless platitudes about teamwork and a can-do spirit can become tiresome.

Yet, it’s sincere in its storytelling, and it works for those looking for family viewing with a strong message.

There are some fun moments, including a quirky and humorous sequence during the series’ first game set to the tune of Rawhide, that’s irreverent and charming, even if it adds to the film’s issues with tonal balance.

While we’re on the subject of kitschy charm, Patrick Renna has a small role as the league commissioner, putting a smile on the face of every Gen Xer and elder millennial with a soft spot for the 90s cult classic The Sandlot (which Renna starred in).

Ultimately, this is a small movie with a big heart that succeeds at telling a bittersweet story of devotion and perseverance.

It boasts the kind of good-natured optimism and humanity that made Ted Lasso such a big hit and resonated with many during a time of turmoil. It may not be a game-changer, but it’s an earnest film that benefits from the strength of its real-life story and its strong performances.

You Gotta Believe offers a touching experience for fans of inspirational sports tales and those seeking a feel-good family film.