Bernie Mac is pretty funny. His TV show is pretty funny. Besides this and Ocean's 11 & 12, I've only seen him in one movie, Bad Santa, and that was extremely funny. So why not see Mr. 3000 when it came out on video? Plot: 17/25: Stan Ross (Mac) is an extremely selfish, but extremely good, slugger for the Milwaukee Brewers who ditched his team in the middle of the pennant race in 1995 because he got his 3000th hit, which he figured solidified him into the hall of fame. Nine years later, after his number is retired and he is well on his way to Cooperstown, it is found three of his hits were a clerical error and he only has 2997 hits. As Stan has milked his Mr. 3000 title to death, he decides to rejoin the Brewers, even though he's 47 and out of shape. The managers agree because he would be a big crowd draw, as there numbers were down with the mediocre performance of the Brews. Of course, he's now a hitless wonder, but he, of all people, teaches the team how to play better by telling them stuff that their coach could have and should have told them long ago. He also resumes an old relationship with now-ESPN reporter Mo (Basset) (Mo is short for something I guess) in what can only be described as a typical, clichéd sub-plot. Aside from that, the plot isn't memorably good, not deviating from the given formula at all, but does maintain some level of interest, more than I can say for most movies like this. It's unoriginal, but it works, somehow.
Comedy: 3/25: I don't remember laughing once during this movie. Not a single time. The only semi-funny bit involved the Japanese pitcher who can't curse right. The rest were barely amusing, if that. It wasn't like there were a bunch of stinker jokes, in fact there were very few. It seemed like this movie didn't even TRY to be funny. This makes it slightly more bearable, but still, this one just doesn't deliver.
Acting: 21/25: Bernie Mac (Ocean's 11) isn't very funny here, but he's very believable. He hasn't had a lead role before, but this looks like he's going to be type-casted like this from now on. Basset (Contact) is appropriate for a role that really requires little talent. The rest of the cast is adequate, but Mac is a great lead and the movie is never really left on anyone else's shoulders, so he carries it quite well.
Entertainment: 12/25: This is filler, but it's tolerable filler, so while I won't recommend it for anyone but die-hard Mac fans, I won't necessarily deter anyone either.
Bonus -3 for blatant advertising: While, unlike I Robot, it does feel in place here, there is so much advertising here that they managed to fit in Viagra. That says something.
Total: 50%: Really, this is a very unfunny comedy. Somehow, as if some higher power wanted it to survive, it is actually quite bearable. I sure won't recommend it, but if it looks interesting to you, I see no harm in renting it.
Comedy: 3/25: I don't remember laughing once during this movie. Not a single time. The only semi-funny bit involved the Japanese pitcher who can't curse right. The rest were barely amusing, if that. It wasn't like there were a bunch of stinker jokes, in fact there were very few. It seemed like this movie didn't even TRY to be funny. This makes it slightly more bearable, but still, this one just doesn't deliver.
Acting: 21/25: Bernie Mac (Ocean's 11) isn't very funny here, but he's very believable. He hasn't had a lead role before, but this looks like he's going to be type-casted like this from now on. Basset (Contact) is appropriate for a role that really requires little talent. The rest of the cast is adequate, but Mac is a great lead and the movie is never really left on anyone else's shoulders, so he carries it quite well.
Entertainment: 12/25: This is filler, but it's tolerable filler, so while I won't recommend it for anyone but die-hard Mac fans, I won't necessarily deter anyone either.
Bonus -3 for blatant advertising: While, unlike I Robot, it does feel in place here, there is so much advertising here that they managed to fit in Viagra. That says something.
Total: 50%: Really, this is a very unfunny comedy. Somehow, as if some higher power wanted it to survive, it is actually quite bearable. I sure won't recommend it, but if it looks interesting to you, I see no harm in renting it.