Mickey (film)

Mickey
Directed by	Hugh Wilson
Produced by	John Grisham
Written by	John Grisham
Starring	Harry Connick, Jr., Shawn Salinas
Music by	Guy Moon, Craig Sharmat
Distributed by	Mickey Productions, Slugger Pictures, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Release date(s)	30 April 2004
Running time	90 min
Language	English
Budget	$6 million

Mickey is a 2004 American baseball drama film that stars Harry Connick, Jr., directed by Hugh Wilson, and written by best-selling novelist John Grisham.

Mickey was filmed in 2004, at baseball fields in Colonial Heights, Richmond, and Petersburg, Virginia, and also South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, home of baseball's Little League World Series (LLWS).

Grisham played Little League in his home state of Mississippi. He wrote the first draft for Mickey in 1995, inspired by his Little League experience as a coach. Grisham and director Wilson live in the Virginia area where much of the filming took place.

Mickey was only the second film, after 1994's Little Giants, to receive permission to use the Little League trademarks.

Plot

Tripp (Harry Connick, Jr.) is a lawyer who becomes the focus of an intensive IRS investigation. He and his 12-year-old son Derek (Shawn Salinas), who loves playing Little League baseball, run from the investigation. They assume new identities, with Tripp becoming Glen Simon Ryan and Derek becoming Michael "Mickey" Jacob Ryan.

Derek's new identity makes him a year younger, which enables him to play another year in the Little League. His team plays very well, receiving attention from TV and newspapers, increasing the chances of his father being caught by the IRS.

"Mickey"'s team reaches the Little League World Series final game as the U.S. representative against a team from Cuba, the International finalist. During the game, LLWS officials receive information of ineligible players on both the Cuban and U.S. teams. It is found that the Cuban team, which is supposed to be strictly from Havana, is made up of All Star players from various island teams.

At a news conference, Tripp/Glen reveals the truth about Derek/Mickey. The LLWS commissioner announces that the team from Rockport, Michigan, will play a Canadian team for the championship instead. After a year in prison, Tripp is released, and in the final scene he throws a baseball to Derek that hits the windshield of his girlfriend's car.

Cast

• Harry Connick, Jr. - Glen Ryan (Tripp Spence)
• Shawn Salinas - Mickey Ryan (Derrick Spence)
• Mike Starr - Tony
• Michelle Johnson - Patty
• Mark Joy - Seeger
• Alexander Roos - Pudge
• Danny Bell - Griff
• Jason Kypros - Pete Bracey
• Gill Baker - Peggy
• Stan Kelly - Prater
• Don Yesso - Cardinal's Coach
• Richard Fullerton - President Sloan
• Peter Gil - Senator Martinez
• Tom Trigo - Jack Fernandez
• Jon-Michael Moralez - Cuban Coach
• Hugh Wilson - Munson
• John Grisham - Commissioner

Awards and nominations

• Winner PLATINUM Award, Best Family Film - WorldFest Film Festival, 2004

Box office

According to the International Movie Data Base, the film Mickey had a budget of $6 million but earned less than $300,000.

External links

• Mickeythemovie.com
• Mickey at the Internet Movie Database
• DVD review
• Mickey at Little League online
• Mickey, from the set. At richmond.com
• Mickey, interview with Harry Connick, Jr. At richmond.com
• John Grisham's Field of Dreams