Every so often a film comes along which simply stands the test of time and truly seems to improve with age. Personally, I find Major League to be just that sort of film. It’s the type of movie that you inevitably stumble across while channel surfing, then comfortably set the remote control down knowing that you’re about to be entertained. The movie has had a fairly long shelf life and has been released on a number of different formats. Is there room for yet another 80’s classic on Blu-Ray? Simply put, yes.
Film 
I feel the need to preface this review by admitting that I’ve been a Clevelander for nearly my entire life. Although I don’t believe this truth contributes any bias to the review, I must admit that a part of me smiles each time I watch these Indians take the field. Perhaps, this is triggered by some sort of hapless hometown pride, yet I’d wager that it’s the result of an exceptionally cast film bringing something extraordinary to life.
Sports films are truly unique in that they attempt to capture those unique moments which remind us just why we love the game. Major League truly succeeds in this regard managing to somehow invoke the up and down emotions sports fans have grown so accustomed too.
The film begins with a sense of misery and sorrow as the audience is introduced to the pain of being a Cleveland sports fan. Once the mood is set, we are then introduced to the Cleveland Indians as they arrive for spring training camp. This is truly a rag tag bunch, yet something about each of the characters simply feels right. As far fetched as some of the characters may be, something about each of their stories is real and parallels are certainly drawn to actual major leaguers.
It doesn’t take long for the tone of the film to change as virtually every line of dialogue seems to trigger either a laugh or a smile. The chemistry between Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger is evident from the start, while Corbin Bernsen and Wesley Snipes also contribute admirable performances. The romantic interlude between Tom Berenger and Renee Russo is also played to perfection and provides the film with a lot of heart.
Much like a fan follows their team through a long season, we learn more and more about them with each passing game. Major League provides a steady dose of reality at just the right times allowing each character’s role to grow past the norms expected in a comedy. By the end of the film, the director seems to achieve the impossible as virtually everyone embraces the Cleveland Indians as their team.
Video 
The film was presented in 1080P high definition at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. I felt that the picture quality was about standard as far as Blu-Ray transfers go. If you look closely there are some small specks that appear during the training camp arrival scene. Apart from that everything seems to look fairly sharp and clear.
While I do not have many complaints regarding the picture quality I can’t say that it stood out as a selling point for the film. Although the colors are clear and the picture looks sharp it seems to be lacking in vibrancy and nothing really stands out as spectacular.
Audio
I enjoyed listening to the film in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound. The majority of the movie is front-heavy and you really wouldn’t be missing out on much without a surround setup. The film does take advantage of the surround sound and at times and I did hear the roar of crowd coming from the rear speakers at the right time. Major League shouldn’t be used to demo your speaker system, but the audio quality was fitting for the film.
Special Features 
I absolutely loved the extras included in the Wild Thing Blu-Ray edition. Apart from cut scenes or alternate ending, I’ve never been drawn to many of the random special features that seem to find their way onto special edition releases. It may be the hometown Indians fan in me coming out, but I found all of the Major League extras enjoyable and worth watching. The special features are all presented in 2CH audio and 480P video.
- My Kinda team: A very interesting background on the how the film was made and the casting decisions that lead to a hit. Old and new interviews with stars of the film such as Charlie Sheen and Tom Beringer are included (23:10).
- A Major League look at Major League: Any Cleveland Indians fan will certainly enjoy this bonus feature. Members of the Cleveland Indians critique the film and it’s similarities to the majors (14:27).
- Bob Uecker: Just a Bit Outside: An interview with Bob Uecker covering his career as a major league player and broadcaster (12:43).
- Alternate Ending with filmmaker introduction: The alternate ending the directors considered until later making the change with the input taken from focus groups. I must say I’m glad the director strayed away from the alternate ending although it is interesting to see (4:18).
- A tour of Cerano’s locker: A short look through Pedro Cerano’s locker showcasing the voodoo artifacts that contributed to creating his character (1:36).
- Photo Gallery: A picture gallery with quite a few stills from the movie.
Final Thoughts
With new Blu-ray releases pouring in every week, I’ve decided to be somewhat selective about what I add to my permanent library. I can say with certainty that Major League is earning a spot on my shelf. Rarely do films succeed at entertaining the viewer so well. Twenty years after its initial release, Major league continues to hit home.
Great review and I must say, I am biased toward this movie. It’s a great flick! Hopefully we’ll see some kind of champion in this town before the world ends.