A Mile in His Shoes (2011) Reviews

• More Corn than Capra

  Havan_IronOak2011-10-26

  This family themed baseball story about a minor league pitcher with Aspergers syndrome is so heartfelt it hurts. The main characters are all likable and the villains are villainous. The story has several "too sweet to be true" moments but overall it's fun to watch and you can't help but feel good doing so. It does get cornier than Capra ever did in spots but still... It's interesting to see Dean Cain playing parts where he could have a grown son and his role choices indicate that he's aware of his appeal among the wholesome set. Enjoy the good parts, ignore the bad and if it annoys you then watch something else. This is based on a true story.

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  Tss50782014-08-03

  Based on the novel, The Legend of Micky Tussler by Frank Nappi, comes the Canadian film, A Mile In His Shoes. While the basic story remains the same, the film was significantly different than the novel. The new story transfers much better to film, but takes far too much away from the original novel. Micky Tussler (Luke Schroeder) is a mid-western farm boy, who suffers from Aspergers Syndrome. One day fortune finds him, as the manager of an independent baseball team's car breaks down in front of his farm. While waiting for a tow truck, Arthur Murphy (Dean Cain) observes Tussler throwing apples to his pigs, and realizes that the kid has a lot of potential. The story originally took place in the 1940's and it was much easier to understand the hardship and discrimination Tussler faced. When the film changes the story to modern day, there isn't much of a stigma associated with Aspergers and that whole angle seemingly disappears from the story. The film being made for TV is also problematic, as rather than being a story of a kid who had to overcome overwhelming odds, it plays more like a Disney movie, about some lovable idiot and the coach who takes him under his wing. The whole message of the original story is basically gutted for TV and as someone who really enjoyed the novel, I resent that. Luke Schroder, son of Rick Schroder, stars as Micky and was really the only bright spot in this film. This was his film debut and he played it as though he'd been acting for years. Growing up around the business must have made it very easy for him to slip into the profession, and his performance was very admirable. As for the rest of the cast, they are just along for the ride and as I said, for me, the film takes too much away from the original story and plays like a dreaded Disney movie, in one of those rare instances where I wish I'd just stuck with the novel.

• If you like believable sports movies with a lot of tension and emotion (like me) then avoid this. Very cheesy. I say B-

  cosmo_tiger2012-01-08

  "Your son Mickey is a very special boy." Arthur Murphy (Cain) is the manager of a minor league baseball team that is stuck in an 0-13 start. While on a trip to find a hot prospect "Murph" gets stuck in a ditch outside of a farm. While waiting for a tow he sees Micky throwing apples and sees what he is looking for. I have said this before...I am a sucker for all sports movies. There has been a long string of sports movies lately that I have really enjoyed. It stopped here. While this is not a terrible movie it has the same problem that a lot of family movies have lately. I know that it has to be this way because it is a family movie but it seems like there is no push back against the "good guys" at all. For example : Murph sees Micky...he has no pitching mechanics...he says I'll work with him...paint's a red dot on a glove...Micky is now best pitcher ever. To me when a movie is unbelievable it's not good to me. Overall, not a bad movie, but too unbelievable for me to fully enjoy. I give it a B-.

• Like Bob Feller

  bkoganbing2018-10-07

  I was lucky to discover this film running on the Christian Broadcasting system, it's a nice family entertainment film and no overt preaching. The basic plot outline of the story reminded me of Bob Feller who at the age of 16 was discovered working on the family farm in Van Meter, Iowa. Like young Luke Schroder he had blinding speed. Unlike Schroder in the film, Feller had his family support and his father was the one who made the decision to sign with the Cleveland Indians. 266 career wins later and Feller is in the Hall of Fame. Feller also did not suffer from Asperger's syndrome. I've met people with that disability and some are high functioning. None channeled in the direction of throwing a baseball and learning the art of pitching. Which minor league manager Dean Cain teaches him. The best parts of A Mile In His Shoes are some truly touching scenes with Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. They borrowed a lot from Rainman for their performances and it's as special as Rainman. This one is a sleeper and belongs in a list of good films about baseball. I think Bob Feller would have liked it.

• It's a really good movie ... if you like overly dramatic takes of real issues

  lucianoc-015222017-11-20

  I like the movie but also the way that they portray Asperger's Syndrome, is so wrong. How do I know? Because I've been diagnosed with it since I was 11. We're not some sensitive child-like people, we are more like somewhat cold average person, with somewhat more logical brains. It's weird to see someone I would call my equal not be someone who could hold a proper conversation.