The Scout (1994) (Sensormatic)

Director Michael Ritchie, famous for his contribution to the sports comedy genre with THE BAD NEWS BEARS, turns his attention to the world of professional baseball with this lighthearted romp. While in Mexico, Al Percolo (Albert Brooks), a down-on-his-luck talent scout, discovers Steve Nebraska (Brendan Fraser), a dream-come-true baseball pitcher. Percolo quickly signs Nebraska to a multimillion-dollar deal with the New York Yankees, but the truth about Nebraska quickly comes to light. As talented a pitcher as Nebraska may be, with his 109 MPH fastball and ambidextrous skills, his childlike temper and suspicious past keep him from reaching his true potential. They also prevent him from passing the psychological evaluation, to the dismay of Percolo. Striking a deal with a grudging doctor, Nebraska is eventually cleared to play, but his fear of failure and inability to perform under pressure threaten to ruin his chances at a professional career.

As the aging scout, Brooks delivers another memorable performance. He is matched by Fraser, whose immature Nebraska forms a deeply emotional attachment to his discoverer in a sensitive, yet humorous, way. With THE SCOUT, Ritchie proves once again that he is one of Hollywood's most multidimensional directors.