Penny Marshall’s tribute to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League is one of the most entertaining crowd-pleasers of the 1990s. Geena Davis and Lori Petty are perfectly cast as sisters who join the league and discover a life outside of the limited possibilities afforded to them by 1940s society, and they’re surrounded by an extraordinarily talented all-star cast that make the most out of every scene. Among many stand-outs, Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell make a great pair, with lived-in chemistry that allows both performers to relax and play off each other with ease. Additionally, the first-class editing by Adam Bernardi and George Bowers manages to establish an overall pace and mood that are well complimented by the first-rate score and use of music, in particular Madonna’s “This Used to Be My Playground” and Carole King’s “Now and Forever.” It runs out of steam a bit in the last twenty minutes or so, but getting there is a delight.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
