Major League II (1994) is a sequel to the 1989 film Major League. Major league II stars most of the same cast from the original, including Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Corbin Bernsen. However, Omar Epps replaces Wesley Snipes as the character Willie 'Mays' Hayes. This film also welcomes some new faces to the team. David Keith plays Jack Parkman - a selfish superstar catcher who is looking to replace the aging Jake (Tom Berenger) as the starter. Takaaki Ishibashi of Japanese comedic duo Tunnels is a new outfielder, Isuro "Kamakazi" Tanaka, who helps excite the team. Eric Bruskotter is the rookie catcher Rube Baker who is getting used to the MLB life. Taglines: The dream team is back! America's favorite team is back! The film was directed by David S. Ward, who also directed the first installment of the Major League series, in addition to other films, such as The Program and Down Periscope. In addition to Sheen, Berenger, Bernsen, Epps, Keith, and Ishibashi, Major League II has an additional cast of Dennis Haysbert, James Gammon, Bob Uecker, and Margaret Whitton. The film touches on the follow up season of the Cleveland Indians successful season in the first film. Success has spoiled the team and many of its players. Roger Dorn has retired and purchased the team. New relationships are revealed that have affected play on the field. The film was released in March of 1994 and eventually gross over $30 million at the U.S. box office. The film and its sequel Major League: Back to the Minors were not as well received as the first film, which is considered by many now to be a classic of some sorts. The film has many cameo appearances by current and former MLB players such as Steve Yeager. The film also has cameos by several entertainers such as Jesse Ventura and Randy Quaid. The film was shot at various locations in Baltimore, Maryland, Chicago, Illinois, Cleveland, Ohio, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Various sports stadiums were also used in filming, including Memorial Stadium, and U.S. Cellular Field (then called Comiskey Park) in Chicago. Because the film was created after the Indians last season at Cleveland Stadium and before the opening of Jacobs Field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards was used. The Cleveland Indians are at it again. After it is revealed that the team lost in the ALCS to the eventual champion Chicago White Sox the previous year, bigger plans are in mind with the organization. There are new problems however: as Rick 'Wild Thing' Vaughn seems to have lost his touch, former "voodoo man" Pedro Cerrano has become extra friendly (due to his apparent conversion to Zen Buddhism), Willie 'Mays' Hayes has become Hollywood, and a slough of new characters threaten team chemistry. The Indians would go on to defeat the Chicago White Sox in the ALCS and go to the World Series. It is unknown if the Indians actually won or not because the sequel to Major League II, Major League: Back to the Minors, switches from having the Indians as the major team to the Minnesota Twins. Rick 'Wild Thing' Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) The star pitcher of the Cleveland Indians in the first film has lost his edge and has become more business-like and professional in both appearance and personality. His new girlfriend (Alison Doody) is responsible for this transformation and Vaughn has lost his distinct haircut, endorses products such as Right Guard deodorant, and he even names his pitches. This change affects his game negatively and his old girlfriend (Michelle Burke) helps him regain his former edge. As before, his signature entrance is set to a hard rock cover of The Troggs' hit song "Wild Thing". Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) The aging catcher in the first film returns in the same spot he was in during the previous one, trying to make the team one last time. He fails to make the team as a player and is instead hired to the coaching staff. He becomes the leader of the club when the manager, Lou Brown, falls ill and is stationed in the hospital. Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) The third baseman in the first film is now the new owner of the Cleveland Indians, having recently purchased the team from Rachel Phelps. He is unsuccessful as the owner trading away great talent and posting billboards in the outfield to save money and make the payroll. He ends up selling the team back to Phelps after he no longer can manage the team and it begins doing poorly again. Pedro Cerrano (Dennis Haysbert) The voodoo practicing slugger from the first film has found peace within himself and the world thanks to his conversion to Buddhism and refuses to get angry at others for whatever mistakes they may make. This is shown at the beginning of the film when Rube Baker squirts shaving cream on Cerrano's shoe and Cerrano replies with a smile, pat, and "I love you man, I love you all!" When Isuro Tanaka is introduced to the team he helps spark Cerrano by constantly taunting him. Lou Brown (James Gammon) Lou returns as the manager of the team, the same nonchalant person who gives in to no player on the team. He experiences a heart attack when yelling at players in the locker room and Jake Taylor takes over the managing duties while he is in the hospital. Willie 'Mays' Hayes (Omar Epps) Epps reprises the role that Snipes played in the first film. In the first film, Hayes was somewhat narcissistic and has only become worse. He has begun an acting career, he hits for power instead of speed, and has an entourage. He gets a leg injury during the season which keeps him on the bench. People begin to question the injury and a fight ensues between members of the team. It is after this that Hayes returns to old form. (Hayes' desire to be an action movie star may in fact be a reference to Wesley Snipes' inability to return for the sequel. After the original movie, Snipes went on to star in action movies like Passenger 57, Rising Sun, and Demolition Man.) Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker) Doyle returns as quick-witted Indians radio announcer who enjoys drinking Jack Daniel's whiskey while calling the games, often getting drunk during losing streaks. He constantly makes fun of the team and its actions with sarcasm and one-liners. Jack Parkman (David Keith) Parkman is a superstar catcher that the Indians acquired through free agency. He is very cocky and brash. He believes he is the best player on the team and that everyone else are losers by choice or birth and is not afraid to reveal this to the media or other members of the team. He is traded to the Chicago White Sox during the season and ends up facing his old team in the ALCS. Isuro Tanaka (Takaaki Ishibashi) Tanaka is acquired in part of the deal that sent Parkman to Chicago. He speaks very little English and uses a dictionary to look up certain translations. He's full of energy and provides a spark for the Indians eventually, most notably Pedro Cerrano. Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton) Phelps returns as the owner of the team. It is revealed during the beginning of the film she sold the team to Roger Dorn but she buys it back once the Indians begin to struggle. She is very interested in her original plan of relocating the team to Florida, so she indeed wants them to fail. Rube Baker (Eric Bruskotter) Baker is a new rookie catcher on the Indians. He is from small town America and is not accustomed to the major league baseball life. Jake Taylor is in charge of guiding his career. Baker is made the starter when Parkman is traded away to the Chicago White Sox. Has a problem involving not being able to throw the ball back to the mound properly (this was based in part on the real-life problems that plagued former New York Mets catcher Mackey Sasser). This problem was solved with the aid of Playboy and a Frederick's of Hollywood catalog. Nikki Reese (Michelle Burke) Reese is an old girlfriend of Vaughn. She is in charge of a program for under-privileged children. She eventually helps Vaughn get his edge back and abandon his new look. |