This heartwarming, wholesome family fare was originally conceived by the late Christopher Reeve (SUPERMAN), and reflects a theme of perseverance against all odds from which the whole family can learn. Set in Depression-era New York, the film follows 10-year-old baseball fan Yankee Irving (voiced by Jake T. Austin), who is more adept at remembering stats than he is at playing the game. Despondent over his sandlot misfires, Yankee is cheered when he makes the acquaintance of a baseball named Screwie (voiced by Rob Reiner) who can actually talk. Later, Yankee visits his dad at the Yankee Stadium, where he is allowed to visit Babe Ruth's famous bat, Darlin' (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg). The bat soon goes missing, Dad loses his job, and Yankee takes off for Chicago with a notion to deliver the bat to Babe. Along the way, he makes numerous friends, including a trio of down-and-out bums who take him under their wing, and a little girl with a mean pitch. The scene with the Detroit Tigers, where the team gives Yankee baseball pointers en route to Chicago, is the film's most charming, while the bumbling bad guy, Lefty Maginnis (voiced by William H. Macy), provides an abundance of slapstick humor. Despite the dubiousness of Babe Ruth's appeal to contemporary youngsters, the story works by concerning itself more with family values, friendship, perseverance, and good clean fun, than with baseball per se. The standout cast also includes Brian Dennehy as the Babe, and Forest Whitaker as the Tigers player Yankee befriends. The soundtrack features original music by Brooks & Dunn, Wyclef Jean, and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Theatrical Release: September 19, 2006
DVD Features:
Keep Case
Dual Side
Audio:
Dolby Digital Surround - Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Disc 1/Side A: EVERYONE'S HERO - Full Frame
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentaries - Colin Brady, Dan St. Pierre - Co-Directors; Jeff Hand, Rob Kurtz - Writers
Behind the Scenes - Inside Look
Documentaries - "Tribute to Christopher and Dana Reeve"
Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailers
2. Combo Trailers
Disc 1/Side B: EVERYONE'S HERO - Widescreen
Additional Release Material:
Behind the Scenes - Making of EVERYONE'S HERO
Executive Producer
Morris Berger: Exec. Producer, EVERYONE'S HERO, (2006)
Executive Producer
Stephen R. Brown: Exec. Producer, EVERYONE'S HERO, (2006)
Voice
Brian Dennehy: American Actor
Voice
Dana Reeve: American actress
Voice
Forest Whitaker: American Actor/Director
Voice
Jake T. Austin: Actor, YANKEE IRVING (2006)
Voice
Joe Torre: Yankees manager, YANKEE IRVING (2006)
Voice
Mandy Patinkin: Stage/Film Actor/Singer
Voice
Rob Reiner: American Director/Actor
Voice
Robert Wagner: American actor, HART TO HART, AUSTIN POWERS
Voice
Whoopi Goldberg: Oscar winning actress, comedian, GHOST, GIRL, INTERRUPTED
Voice
William H. Macy: Stage/Film Actor, STATE AND MAIN (2000)
Executive Producer
Jerry Davis: ACTOR/ADULT
Review 1:
"HERO recreates Depression-era America with surprisingly agreeable anachronistic panache." -- Grade: B-
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.76 09/22/2006
Review 2:
3 stars out of 5 -- "EVERYONE'S HERO is a perfectly serviceable bit of family animation....It's good family fair that will be remembered well."
Source: Box Office
p.38 10/01/2006
Review 3:
3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he film is touchingly infused with the late actor's inspirational rhetoric....An enjoyably heartfelt adventure."
Source: Ultimate DVD
p.107 05/01/2007