Summertime in America means seemingly endless days of no school, backyard BBQs, and, most importantly, baseball. The anticipation of the upcoming season is captured through the eyes of a young boy in the heartwarming film Rally Caps, where the game of baseball acts as the catalyst for the young protagonist to learn some valuable life lessons. Based on the children’s book of the same name, written by father-daughter team, Stephen J. Cutler and Jodi Michelle Cutler, director Lee Cipolla adapts the book’s pages and transforms them into a charming coming-of-age tale.

Life Lessons on the Baseball Field

Academy Award nominee Judd Hirsch (The Fabelmans) has a small but memorable supporting role as Pop, a baseball enthusiast, and proud grandpa of pre-teen, Jordy (Carson Minniear). Jordy and his widowed single mom (Amy Smart) are equally obsessed baseball fans with Jordy’s bedroom resembling that of a Baltimore Orioles memorabilia shop more than a functional bedroom. The film opens on the morning of the big baseball tryout, the first time Jordy will be attempting to play Little League. His excitement quickly turns into dread when he gets injured at the pitcher’s mound, derailing his plans of playing on a team that summer. Discouraged and depressed, his mom and Pop believe that spending the summer with his older brother at a baseball camp will cure Jordy’s blues.

Learn more about the book Rally Caps here.

Once Jordy arrives at camp, he immediately feels out of his element. The older boys sense his weakness and begin to bully him, which only makes Jordy feel more insecure. However, it’s a budding friendship with his deaf bunkmate Lucas (Colten Pride) that encourages Jordy to stand strong and confident. Lucas, a catcher, is similar to Jordy in the sense that he is also recovering from Cochlear Implant surgery to address his hearing loss. Together, Jordy and Lucas form a special bond that is inclusive of other misfit kids. Jordy’s new friendships and team camaraderie extend far beyond the baseball field, as he learns how to face his bullies and rediscover confidence on the baseball field and in life.

Liked The Sand Lot? Then Rally Caps is for You

Rally Caps is an independent coming-of-age story that will resonate most with kids and pre-teens, but adults will equally enjoy the film’s uplifting message. Reminiscent of The Sand Lot and Field of Dreams, director Lee Cipolla incorporates a wonderful sense of nostalgia into this family-friendly story. The music montages also aid in setting the tone, which can best be described as warm, sun-soaked summer days.  As familiar as the film feels in its aesthetic and structure, it also includes serious modern-day themes such as child anxiety and mental health. These key messages are incredibly sincere in their delivery and make Rally Caps not only a source of entertainment but a learning opportunity too.

Takeaway

Full of heart and supported by emotionally rich performances, Rally Caps may be the next big classic sports story. A perfect balance of comedy, sincerity, drama, and musical moments, Rally Caps may be a small indie film but it feels destined to be a much bigger experience on screen.