Jim Morris, the real-life hero of The Rookie, has an inspirational story all but guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face. Blessed with an awesome fastball, Morris nursed dreams of pitching for Major League Baseball during his 20s. Injuries and bad luck, however, forced him to give up hope and become a teacher and coach. Years later, pressed by students and colleagues to try out for "the Show" one more time, Morris discovered he still had a powerful arm and he was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Rookie is at its best throughout this first chapter in Morris's mid-life adventure, though the rest of the film finds fresh angles on more familiar baseball-movie conventions. Dennis Quaid is soulful and charismatic as Morris, perfect in his depiction of a man both thankful and startled that destiny has given one of the good guys his due. --Tom Keogh