Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 8+
Sentimental, inspiring tale about Little League underdogs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
-
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Both the coach and Angel's father are shown either drinking or drunk. While the coach does it just once, Angel's father is shown angry, holding a bottle or glass, in a few scenes. Angel's mother confronts her husband about his drinking to no avail.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Language
a little
Racial insults like "towel boy," "old colored man," "wetbacks," and "those Mexicans," etc. Harsh language said by a father, like "Shut him up or I'll do it myself!" and "He'll never be the son Pedro was."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Violence & Scariness
a little
A couple of fist-fights nearly break out -- one among adult men and one among preteen boys. A boy's death -- during a stickball game -- is recounted and alluded to several times. A father is cruel to his wife and son, and while he doesn't literally hit them, he's menacing and mean on several occasions.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Products & Purchases
very little
Mild: Just a couple of Coke bottles, a Ford, and a Chevy.
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Cesar flirts chastely with Maria. Mario jokes that he knows more about girls than the coach. Enrique eyes a girl at the market.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Positive Messages
a lot
Kids learn that if they work hard and practice with discipline and determination, they can win -- even if the odds are stacked against them.
-
Positive Role Models
some
All the boys are incredibly dedicated, sweet, and hard-working. They are faithful to their team, their families, their coach, and their faith. Father Esteban believes in the boys, even when no one else does, as does Coach Cesar (although a bit more reluctantly). Cesar chooses to respect the right for all of the boys to play, even when he's commanded to play just the "better" pitcher.
-
Educational Value
a little
Kids learn about the true story that the film is based on, as well as some history about Mexico, the Little League, and race in America during the 1950s.
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this inspiring sports drama about a Mexican Little League team that made it all the way to the World Series is a fine pick for most kids. There are a few themes that might be too difficult for kids under 7 to understand, like the discrimination the boys face when playing in Texas or the Midwest. Because it's set in the '50s, when Jim Crow laws were still the norm in the American South, the team has to deal with "whites only" signs, being called "wetbacks" and watching the sole black player of a team eat separately from his white teammates. One of the boys has a cruel, seemingly alcoholic father grieving the death of an older son, and the coach also gets drunk after being called a "towel boy." There are also a couple of scuffles between characters, although no actual punches are thrown. There's also a strong religious theme in the film, since the kids are strict Catholics. Also, kids learn about overcoming odds, working as a team, and relying on faith when confronted with obstacles. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
-
2:07
-
-
-
The Perfect Game
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents say (12)
- Kids say (16)
age 8+
Based on 12 parent reviews
Sarah T. Adult
August 31, 2023
age 9+
Great movie for baseball fans/players
(Kid review) Great movie! Inspirational. Come-back theme. The team is very motivated. Based on a true story.
Ashley G. Parent of 5 and 7-year-old
April 29, 2023
age 5+
Great movie with great messages around teamwork, perserverance and racism. Kept my 5 and 7 year old entertained the whole movie and cheering at the end.
Rate movie
See all 12 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Based on an improbable but true story, this inspiring sports movie follows a group of poor boys from Monterrey, Mexico who find a St. Louis Cardinals baseball and think it's a gift from God. With guidance from their supportive priest, Father Esteban (Cheech Marin) and Cesar (Clifton Collins Jr.), a former Major League clubhouse attendant, the boys -- led by Angel (Jake T. Austin), Enrique (Jansen Pannetierre), and Mario (Moises Arias) -- form an official Little League team that idolizes the Brooklyn Dodgers. After enduring Coach Cesar's strict practices, the Monterrey Industrials manage to defy the odds to compete against an American team in front of racist spectators until they miraculously reach the Little League World Series. Billed the David to the American team's Goliath, the Monterrey boys prove they can play THE PERFECT GAME.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (12):
Kids say (16):
Director William Dear's overly sentimental tribute to the first foreign team ever to win the Little League World Series is so predictable it's funny. There's nothing unexpected in the entire film, and unfortunately, neither the actors nor the director could seem to agree whether to pronounce Mexican names in Spanish or some form of exaggeratedly accented English. But despite its considerable corniness, it's nearly impossible not to get sucked into the sugary-sweet underdog story. The adorable Catholic boys are irresistible in their belief that God has provided not only a real baseball but a former major-league "coach" to lead them to greatness. They even insist on having the108th Psalm recited prior to every game in honor of a baseball's 108 stitches. If you've just rolled your eyes, then you're not the intended audience for this afterschool-special-like tale.
At first it seemed laughable that Marin, who spent his early career as half of the pot-loving comedy duo Cheech & Chong, would play a believable priest, but as the movie continued, his character was actually gentle and patient and not played (completely) for laughs. Collins, an underrated character actor who's often pigeon-holed in Hispanic gangster or cop roles, displays a good rapport with the kids, many of whom are charming veteran actors like Austin (Wizards of Waverly Place), Arias (Hannah Montana) and Panettiere (Hayden's little bro). A subplot featuring Emilie de Ravin as a newspaper reporter reluctantly assigned to cover the Industrials on their undefeated journey is underdeveloped, whereas an African-American groundskeeper (Louis Gossett Jr.) who helps the boys decipher their opposing pitcher's hand signals would've been welcome in more scenes.Perfect Game is not Rudy, but it is an educational and inspiring little sports flick.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the David vs. Goliath theme in the film. What do the Monterrey boys have to overcome to compete in the World Series? How are the American teams "Goliath-like"?
Why are underdog stories so appealing? Name some of the best underdog-themed sports movies.
There are lots of Biblical references in the movie. How does the kids' faith affect their playing?
How is racism treated in the movie? Is it difficult to consider what it was like when there were "white's only" signs on bathrooms and elderly men were derisively called "colored" by white men? How did the kids react to the African American boy who must eat separately from his team? What would you have done?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 16, 2010
- On DVD or streaming: August 2, 2011
- Cast: Cheech Marin, Clifton Collins Jr., Emilie de Ravin, Jake T. Austin
- Director: William Dear
- Inclusion Information: Latino actors
- Studio: Slowhand Releasing
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Run time: 118 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some thematic elements
- Last updated: April 22, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
The Perfect Game
Suggest an Update
Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy.
