As a Canadian, I sometimes wish Hollywood would put a little more energy into hockey movies and a little less into stories about baseball. How about a pristine, shiny surface of ice instead of a field of dreams? How many times can unwilling Little League players be taught life lessons by flawed coaches? How many times can the underdogs overcome the brash bullies who are only interested in winning at any cost?
The film You have to believe begins with some of those baseball cliches, but manages to free itself from too much predictability as director Ty Roberts retells the true story of a group of misfit teenage baseball players whose beloved coach dies of cancer.
Coach Bobby Ratliff (Luke Wilson) hasn’t had much success with his team on the field, even though all the players love and respect him. A sudden cancer diagnosis overwhelms the Ratliff family and Bobby is unable to take the field. Author Lane Garrison captures the anguish of the Ratliff sons, especially Bobby Junior, who is angry at God and the world because of his father’s illness.
Assistant coaches Jon (Greg Kinnear) and Mitch (Lew Temple) step up their game and begin whipping the young men into shape. Inspired by their coach’s fight, the boys begin an improbable winning streak that takes them from Fort Worth, Texas, to the 2002 Little League World Series.
Despite his illness, Coach Bobby is determined to cheer the boys on in person. An incredible one-hitter from star pitcher Walker Kelly (Etienne Kellici) in the knockout phase sets up 11 innings of drama and hope (at the time, one of the longest Little League World Series games ever). But since this is a true story and not pure Hollywood, viewers don’t get the ending they might expect.
You have to believe is entertaining, with a little humor and some fairly believable sports scenes. Who or what you “have to believe” is not addressed as specifically as Christians would like. But the message of courage, determination and teamwork is inspiring and could appeal especially to younger viewers.