Angels in the Outfield
Movie, 1994, The Mid 90s
Angels in the Outfield is #17 of 27 in release order and #17 of 27 in chronological order in the VHS Kids Classics.
The story
Roger is a foster child whose irresponsible father promises to get his act together when Roger's favourite baseball team, the California Angels, wins the pennant. The problem is that the Angels are in last place, so Roger prays for help to turn the team around. Sure enough, his prayers are answered in the form of angel Al.
Angels in the Outfield recap
Roger is a boy in foster care whose father rarely sees him. When Roger asks when they will be a family again, his father says it will happen when the California Angels win the pennant, and Roger prays for it. At the next game, he sees a group of angels, led by one called Al, helping the Angels win, though only he can see them. The team's grumpy manager, George Knox, starts keeping Roger and his friend J.P. at games to tell him which players the angels are helping, and the last-place Angels climb to the top of the division. Roger learns in court that his father has given up custody of him. A sportscaster who hates Knox finds out about the angels and tells the owner, who threatens to fire him, until Roger admits the truth and the team stands by their manager.
Angels in the Outfield ending explained
In the pennant game, the angels do not help, because championships must be won on their own. Knox keeps the old pitcher Mel Clark, who has months to live, on the mound, and Clark makes the final catch to win the pennant. The owner fires the sportscaster. Roger's foster mother tells him he must move on to a new home, but Knox has asked the court to adopt him, and he takes J.P. as well. Al watches over the new family from the window and flies off.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Angels in the Outfield
Angels in the Outfield is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 31%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Mrs. Doubtfire, before Little Giants.
- Chronological order: after Mrs. Doubtfire, before Little Giants.
Cast
- Danny Glover as George Knox
- Tony Danza as Mel Clark
- Brenda Fricker as Maggie Nelson
- Ben Johnson as Hank Murphy
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Roger
- Jay O. Sanders as Ranch Wilder
- Taylor Negron as David Montagne
- Milton Davis Jr. as J.P.
- Christopher Lloyd as Al the Angel
- Tony Longo as Triscuit Messmer
- Neal McDonough as Whitt Bass
- Stoney Jackson as Ray Mitchell
Directed by William Dear.