
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 1, 1994                   TAG: 9404010058
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

`MAJOR LEAGUE' SEQUEL TELLS A TIMELY STORY

"Major League II" is an uninspired sequel to a really funny baseball movie. The original is an irreverent, rambunctious comedy about jocks and the business of games. It was fairly successful in theaters in 1989, but it found its real audience on home video.

To be fair, this second film does tell a timely story about the ways in which success on the field carries the seeds of its own destruction. Note the real sports comedy that's been played out by the Dallas Cowboys' management over the past couple of weeks.

It's similar to the situation the Cleveland Indians find themselves in as this one begins. For those who might have forgotten the premise, a quick preface by announcer Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker) brings them up to date. Last year, inspired by their evil owner (Margaret Whitton), the Indians overcame their reputation as perennial losers and won their division. They're a bunch of has-beens, ne'er-do-wells and oddballs who have molded themselves into a solid team.

Now, they've started to believe their own press clippings. "Wild Thing" Vaughan (Charlie Sheen) has traded in his radical haircut and Harley for expensive suits, a limo and a stunning girlfriend-agent (Alison Doody). The fierce Cerrano (Dennis Haysbert) has converted from voodoo to Buddhism and is at peace with the world. Dorn (Corbin Bersen) is so rich that he has bought the team. Willie Mays Hays (Omar Epps taking over for Wesley Snipes who played the role in the first film) starred in an action movie during the off-season.

Catcher Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) hasn't changed, but his knees are even worse, and manager Lou Brown (James Gammon) isn't getting any younger either.

Helping to pick up the slack (but not helping enough) are Rube (Eric Bruskotter), a rookie catcher; Tanaka (Takaaki Ishibashi), a star for the Tokyo Giants; and the brutish Jack Parkman (David Keith), an effective villain.

For almost all of the film, our heroes try to maintain their newly found respectability while losing baseball games. You don't need three guesses to figure out what they have to do to win. It takes director David Ward almost the entire film to get to that point. When he finally does, it's a case of too little, too late.

Characters attempting to be dignified in undignified situations can be the stuff of truly great comedy. But not when those characters are overaged adolescent jocks who are being paid to play a game. Their dignity could not be less important, or less believable.

On the positive side, the baseball scenes - filmed in Baltimore's two parks - are handled well. Ward knows how to capture the action, even if it isn't too realistic. The entire ensemble cast handles the light material with a sure touch, particularly David Keith.

So, who knows? If "Major League II" proves to be as popular on tape and cable TV as its predecessor was, then there might well be a "III" in the future.

Major League II **

A Warner Bros. release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View Mall 6. 101 min. Rated PG for a little rough language.

by CNB