My son’s favorite part was when Screwy falls down the steps, yelling, “My butt!  My head!  My Butt!  My head!”  Yes, that pretty much gives you the movie’s tone.

Apparently this movie was the dream of the late Christopher and Dana Reeves.  Christopher co-directed the movie, and Dana was a voice talent for Emily Irving, Yankee’s mom.  As the movie progresses, it is clear that the Reeves wanted to inspire children to value the little, almost insignificant life experiences along the road so that, if handled properly, they can all help when life calls us up to bat.

For example, Yankee almost nonchalantly lets a new friend teach him how to dodge apples and keep his eye on where a pitch originates and not where it’s going, and he casually allows a traveling team of ball players from Cincinnati to teach him to hit crazy curve balls – no matter what bumps in the road may come.  Little does he know just how hugely the little lessons and warnings of life might add up to make – or break – a guy’s big dream.

As believers, we can take away some great truths from “Everyone’s Hero,” one of the best being that God uses the weak and foolish things – and people – to confound the wise and do great exploits.  The movie extols the family by showing committed, pursuing parents, and it is a beautiful lesson on perseverance.  Just as “Finding Nemo” taught us to “just keep swimming,” “Everyone’s Hero” shouts, “Just keep swinging!”  My, we're going to be exhausted!

AUDIENCE:  Children and adults

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  None
• Language/Profanity:  None
• Sex/Nudity:  None
• Violence:  Plenty of slapstick violence.  For instance, the Cubs Manager beats and maims the bobble-head toy image of Babe Ruth.  The bad guy gets pummeled in all sorts of ways, but is able to rise back up again and continue his evil pursuit.