bkoganbing I would have thought with the creative talents of Neil Simon writing the script and Hal Ashby behind the camera The Slugger's Wife would have turned out a lot better. As a baseball film this one is maybe a single.Playing the title role Rebecca DeMornay is an aspiring country singer for whom baseball player Michael O'Keefe falls big time. O'Keefe is a guy full of promise who never quite reached his potential. But when she's around O'Keefe starts hitting home runs with regularity, so much so that the Atlanta Braves vault into contention for the pennant and O'Keefe starts to threaten the record of 61 set by Roger Maris in 1961.Soon O'Keefe insists he be at every game as his good luck charm. But DeMornay also has a career she's worked hard at.This film might have been better but Michael O'Keefe acts like such an egotistical jerk it's hard to work up any sympathy for his problem. Is it his acting, Ashby's direction, or Simon's script. Take your pick.Best acting in the film is from acclaimed director Martin Ritt who plays the Atlanta Braves manager. He has some interesting motivational techniques.The Slugger's Wife will never be listed as a great baseball film.

wannajava-650-564181 You need : At least 1 witty friend (many would be preferable- better able to "enjoy" this sparkling gem), Lots of the alcohol of your choice, non damaging missiles (popcorn, nerf balls,cats)and a DVD of "The Lonely Lady" (with Pia Zadora!) to have a really good time. This movie is so bad, the effort to find something to laugh about is exhausting. Don't get me wrong, the dialogue is lame enough "You'll hit a home run for a pretty girl but not for me." grumps the ball coach, the Music is Bad, (DeMourney cannot sing but at least they had enough integrity to HAVE her sing?)and the acting is Sad (by the end I was Rooting for the breakup)It should have been fun. A Real Mockfest but the level to which you have to go to Believe this plot, is outrageous and insulting and that kills the mood. Maybe I should have made jello shooters.... If you want a good Dose of Pathetic Apathy from Everyone involved(Neil Simon after his breakup with Marsha Mason and DEEEEP into self reflection and a good director who must have been blackmailed into doing this), or need a test to find out How Witty your friend is, this is your gig. If only anyone in this movie had Tried, really Tried to do something with this mess...It had so much potential to be EPIC BAD, instead? Meh.

capricorn9 They say that ballplayers can have a slump, like Palmer does in this movie. I'd also like to add that so do writers and this is Simon's slump. He must have needed the money as the plot has none of the Simon wit of scripts past and the whole idea has been recycled numerous times over the years by every writer in LA. Ashby's direction lacks any pacing at all and the whole thing could have been cut by at least 20 minutes. I will admit there are moments of fun but they are brief and far between. The film also seems dated. I went on a Simon kick last week and watched Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple 1 and 2 and they still hold up even though the first two were written in the 60's. Simon has had little success with scripts written directly for Hollywood (Murder by Death is an exception) and his biggest successes have always been stage plays first.

alvink i give a two because it is not as bad as 'sub down', or 'terror in tiny town', but gee whiz, it ain't good.i saw the names 'simon and ashby' and i paused it to run out for some popcorn and lights, certain i was in for a treat.i mean, ashby, who directed 'harold and maude'??? and what about simon, who wrote the incomparable 'Murder By Death'????? what a join-up, no???? but, nooooo, 'twas not to be.this is an embarrassing movie to watch. not only are the baseball scenes painful (i mean, c'mon, a 185 pound 62 run slugger???), but believe me-- i have been a pro musician since '75--- ms. demornay's 'singing and dancing' scenes really and truly amateurishly bad--- i'm saying that this is a really really bad production!!!!!!!! in the story, she is supposed to possess a spark, an ability to perform that should be fanned to flame. believe me, all of her songs are producer-driven crap, no spark of genius in nary a one.such a great collection of talent (did you know that mr. ritt directed both 'Hud', and 'Hombre'?) but this is a very badly put together piece of garbage.i'm not really criticizing-- after all, everybody can have a bad day. hey, beethoven wrote 'Wellington's Victory March', one of the worst pieces in the classical literature.but this is an example of ashby's/simon's worst day. it's really, really awful.