Major League: Back to the Minors

In this surprising and pleasing revival of the Major League series -- which after the abysmal second installment seemed ready to retire -- the batch of baseball rejects are a minor-league club playing in the Minnesota Twins organization (the Cleveland Indians finally get off the hook after a few winning seasons). Scott Bakula provides balance and poise as Gus Cantrell, an over-the-hill vet pitcher who's talked into managing the lackluster farm team. Naturally he turns the team around, and naturally the bushers get to play the parent club (think of those Red Sox-Paw Sox exhibitions). Corbin Bernsen is back as the Twins' owner, and as his skipper Ted McGinley -- sporting a George Hamilton tan -- is an over-the-top scream. Bob Uecker still provides the laughs from the broadcast booth, and Dennis Haysbert returns as the voodoo sultan of swat. There are no home-run shots here, just enough enjoyable dingers to make this a worthwhile prospect for the sporting crowd. At the Harbour Mall, Holiday, Lincoln Mall, Showcase, Tri-Boro, and Woonsocket cinemas.

-- Tom Meek