I'm not going to flame you for not liking this movie. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and you obviously dislike it for reasons that you deem valid. That said, this is one of my favorite 'coming of age' movies. Stand By Me is another of my favorites. The two are similar only in that they involve an ensemble cast of talented middle school age boys portraying characters from the early 60s. The Sandlot is more of a tongue-in-cheek look at early 60s nostalgia while Stand By Me deals with more serious issues while still injecting some comic relief. The fact is, this movie isn't one to be taken seriously. It is told, both by the visuals and the narration, from the point of view of a 12 year old. I don't agree with the comparison between this movie and Stand By Me.
Well, can't he just beam up?
This is reality Greg.

I think I've might have found one of the primary issues that you have with this movie. It's not necessarily that you didn't do the things that these kids do in the movie, it's that when you posted your message you were 16 years old. At this age, you don't relate to 11-13 year old kids. You think of them as children, which they are. You haven't had enough time elapse to reminisce fondly on your childhood.
You are growing up in a different era where kids don't play outside as much as they used to, but that's not the point. You will have memories of your childhood when you're in your 20's and 30's and those memories will be more grandios that they really were. That is the beautiful thing about nostalgic memories in general and this movie in particular.
You may not have played baseball with a tight group of friend as in the film, but I'm sure you have a group of friends that have similar interests. You've probably been in a situation in which one of your friends got themselves into a bit of trouble with their parents. They may not have "borrowed" an autographed Babe Ruth baseball, they may have "borrowed" a credit card autographed by their parents. We all knew an older girl that we all had/have a crush on, like Wendy the lifeguard in the movie. Most towns or neighborhoods also have exaggerated stories about mean old men/women, dogs, monsters, bullies, etc. that are all based on rumorbut everyone KNOWS they're true.
Finally, this film is not necessarily a coming of age movie. It's much more of a nostalgic, character driven movie to which we can all relate. We all knew an awkward new kid that's trying to fit in. We all knew the athletic kid that thinks only about sports. We've all known the "story teller" who tells tales so convincing they just HAVE to be true (and the stories get better every time he tells them). We all know a "ham", we all know someone that will become successful in business, and sadly someone that just doesn't adjust well to the world.
This movie is a nostalgic time capsule. I agree with you that the acting in this film wasn't the greatest, and that's OK. But I encourage you to view it again in a few years, I guarantee that you will have a different perspective.

It's a fun kid adventure with a happy-end that's better off without overanalyzing
I dislike baseball and not a big fan of the rest, but it still scored a decent 6/10 from me
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Here is the thing about 'The Sandlot,'
As others have stated it is not meant to adhere to real-world physics and probability. It is a story told by an adult recalling a story from his past and often when this happens stories begin to take on a life of their own and fabrications work themselves into its telling to make it more interesting. The fact that it is set in what is it 1962(?) is unimportant although, it is important to realize that this story is told in the past-tense, the narration provides this context, things like the wardrobe and the price of the baseball at the drugstore give a general reference of time but again, it's not that important.
You seem to be a bit distracted by the plausibility of 'The Beast' having some unexplained super abilities. As I stated above stories like these told to children are exaggerated and the chase scene when the dog rips through a movie theatre screen or jumps through a window unscathed are all simply explained by this. The expectation of the dogs extraordinary ability is set up well early in the movie during the tree house camp out, this dog was legend to this group of friends as kids prior to their encounter with it, an epic and exaggerated chase could only provide credence to this legend. A more realistic chase where Benny hops the fence and everyone runs to their houses and locks the doors would be anti-climactic and certainly would have been much less fun.
As for the pop up sound effects this I chalk up to simply being a reality of the time, when television and movie studios thought that they livened things up and were a brand of comedy on their own. This trend didn't go away and transformed itself through the years (see the painful first episodes of Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night, laugh-track) it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I cringe as well when well-written script are tarnished with such obliviousness.
As far as the acting goes. Sometimes you take what you can get, not every kids movie gets brilliant combination casts like 'The Outsiders' particularly with writer who is a first time director. I think David Evans got a bit lucky however as the fairly green cast provided unrefined skill in acting and made it a bit more likable, these kids weren't going out to blow your doors away, they had fun making it and its final presentation presented itself that way striking chords of nostalgia in adults back when they were having fun on the baseball diamond or setting out on Little Rascal-esque adventures.
I don't know maybe I have just repeated a lot of what everyone else has said but I think when it comes down to is that this movie wasn't made to be an Academy Award winner and true to life in every aspect, just a fun "Remember When" story.
P.S. The Sandlot 2 (I wasn't even aware there was a 3rd) are abominations that never should have been made but the studio mindset is for profit and product recognition is a major draw (see The Hangover 2.) There are plenty of films that don't require and should not have sequels (e.g. Slap Shot) but if they can squeeze some more money off of a successful franchise and test new young actors mettle in the process for future films there is no harm, I see them as paid auditions for future roles and I refuse to watch them.

Yep that's what I said. Everything seemed unrealistically ridiculous because it's from a kid's point of view. Everything seems more amazing as a kid and they're trying to show that.

I am 67 and loved the movie. It is told from the point of view of a 12 year old's imagination, and it is magical. Field of Dreams was wonderful, even though Shoeless Joe and his father didn't really come back. It's make believe, but recalls an innocent time when the world was limited to the neighborhood, friends, and in this case the sandlot. Sorry you didn't like it, but it may be something you lack, rather than something the movie lacks. I bet you have problems with The Princess Bride movie also. Some parts of that are not really believeable. Although your post tries to rain on the parade of those who enjoy the film, the rain quickly turns to a drizzle, and then barely a mist for those of us with the heart and memory to savor those days of youth. I'm sorry you had such an unhappy childhood. Maybe you should stick to Bergman films.

Wow, I didn't even have to read your entire response to know that you've probably lost every bit of childishness in you. (I'm not sure that's a word but that's besides the point.) The reason the dog outsmarted the kids was BECAUSE THEY WERE KIDS!! Kids have wild imaginations and are amazingly impressionable. If all your friends tell you that there is a beast in a grumpy old man's back yard, you believe them. You may act skeptical, but you secretly believe them. Comparing this movie to Stand By Me is completely irrational. As a kid, I would never want to watch that movie because it deals with some difficult topics while The Sandlot is pure fun. It's like comparing True Grit with Avatar. You can't compare a drama movie starring kids marketed to adults to a comedy-drama movie starring kids marketed towards kids and teenagers. It just doesn't make sense. The two movies are in completely different genres and have different messages. Stand By Me is a more mature movie for adults who want a good story with some nostalgia. The Sandlot is so great because the movie is really just about childhood friendships and the "pickles" you get into as a child with your friends.
Your pessimistic attitude towards this movie makes me question what your childhood was like. If you can't understand this movie, it's because your over analyzing it and subsequently, taking all the magic out of it. I've seen this movie dozens of times and it's been one of my favorite movies since I first saw it as an elementary school student.
Maybe you're too old to appreciate this film for it's beauty. That's perfectly fine. There are plenty of other people in this world who find this movie brilliant and amazing.

This message has been deleted.

Maybe the problem is that you have to see it first when you're a kid. I saw this in the theaters when I was 8 and it instantly became a favorite. To this day I still love this movie. I think it really captures the greatness of being a child. Doing nothing all summer long but playing baseball (or any other game you were into) with the exaggerated story of the big scary dog (who didn't have something like that in their neighborhood when they were a kid?). It takes place in the 1960s where kids were a lot more innocent than they are today and they actually PLAYED OUTSIDE in the summer instead of today where technology is ruining our youths imagination. Maybe that's why people compare it to Stand By Me or even Now and Then?
If you don't like it that's your deal but there's a reason why this movie is rated so high It is a GREAT kids movie for a lot of different reasons.

The Sandlot is supposed to be seen through the eyes of a kid. All of the exaggerations in the movie are how a kid would see them. When you're a kid, certain things come off as more incredible (such as a pretty large dog) or more amazing (such as a ball being hit out of it's seams). It's trying to get across how you would see what was happening if you were in their shoes. Things just seem altogether more epic as a kid, so the fantasy parts of the movie are just trying to get this point across.

I see your points, and I respect your opinion, even while I utterly disagree with it. For a lot of us, this movie is our childhoods. When you see this movie as a kid, it will stay with you for a very, very long time. It's a simple story, yes, and it does lend itself to a lot of very childish moments, but that's alright for us.
It's hard to explain, but this movie is the classic growing up movie for kids. It's about being young, being new in the neighborhood, making friends, trying to relate to people, trying to get accepted, and above all it's about Baseball. Not winning, not competition, just about Baseball. Playing Baseball. Talking about Baseball. Living Baseball. Growing up with Baseball. It sounds about as cliche as it could be, but we don't see it that way. For a lot of us, it's more like this is the movie that set a lot of those cliches.
As for Stand By Me, I haven't seen that, so my opinion on it is notably incomplete. But the way I always looked at Stand By Me (I've seen bits and pieces of it), it was more of a grown-up movie than a kids movie. A lot of the stuff in there goes right over the heads of a lot of kids. I'm not saying the movie is too mature and too complex for any kids to watch/enjoy, but you do miss a bit as a kid. Stand By Me is about growing up an becoming more mature and a better person for it. The Sandlot is about growing up. I'll admit Stand By Me is the better film, by most standards of judgement. But a lot of us still love The Sandlot.
Okay, I don't know how many coherent points i managed to make in all that. I guess all I can say is that a lot of us love The Sandlot for every reason you hate it. Because of this, saying it was "painful to watch" will upset a lot of people. It's like insulting Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

You review movies LIKE A GIRL!!

I might be a little late to this thread, but are you kidding me? I don't think anyone would want to live in the sixties. The 21st century is a great era to be born in and it will keep on getting better. Stop trying to be pretentious and sound mature.
It's easy to criticize a movie like this about the cinematography, editing, screenplay, etc. Jesus, man! The whole point of the movie is told from a child's perspective, where all the film elements are difficult to bring up. It's a movie about the joys of just being a kid. Running around your small town, getting in trouble with your friends, crushing on girls and laughing so hard your stomach hurts. I think the reason you hate this movie so much is because your love for Stand by Me. Just relax and watch it with an open mind. I guarantee with this mindset it will leave you all fuzzy inside and with a huge smile on your face. My childhood wasn't very similar to this, however it still gave me that pit in my stomach and made me feel extremely nostalgic. And judging by most of the reviews here, the director accomplished that very well. Stop stopping yourself from enjoying this movie!

The world needs more honesty and less bleeding hearts that shy away from the truth out of 'compassion'. I say beep your feelings.

I think, that because you are 16, and clearly foreign, you are an idiot.
So all foreigners aged 16 are idiots?
You, sir, are the cretin here. Your post is nothing more than a series of ad hominem attacks. At least the OP has the sense to respond without resorting to personal belittlement. I, for one, agree with several of the points he rasied - & even if I hadn't, I wouldn't be as huge a jerk as you in a public forum.
Hope that helps.
I have opinions of my own, but I don't always agree with them - George Bush

I think, that because you are 16, and clearly foreign, you are an idiot. You are not even trying to enjoy the movie, only trying to judge it by your experience, which do not match up with the fanbase of this movie. All your complaints have been explained so far, such as the supernatural dog being told from the perspective of a grown man trying to retale the tall legends of his youth. But, you either fail to grasp such a simple context or are incapable. Either way, you are just too damn stupid to enjoy this movie.

@alkaline4200
The only thing I liked about the movie was that it DID depict childhood before video games. I am well aware that childhood is not what it once was. Remember, I've repeated numerous times that I very much liked Stand by Me. Both movies shared that one key ingredient. I am regretful that my childhood was not more like those depicted in The Sandlot. Still, even with this key ingredient, The Sandlot falls very short.
As I've already said, I am only 16. Still, when I watch movies like Stand by Me, I am swept with a great sense of nostalgia. I am well aware of 60's culture, and in many ways, prefer it to today's. I often times feel like I was born 35+ years too late.

i'm going to have to second the opinions, that:
A) you should not be comparing this to stand by me, regardless of how people compare them on these forums. My best guess would be that they are comparing them on a nostalgic level as opposed to technical/critical level.
B) You probably didn't grown up playing like these kids. Not many will anymore with internet and video games being what they are, but I think I can speak for a majority who grew up like the kids in the Sandlot(not necessarily in the 60's) when I say it accurately depicts the way we played.
As far as the supernatural dog goes-it's pretty clear at the end of the movie that is wasn't supernatural at all, just a buildup of their imagination. The baseballs were the equivalent of a dogs bone-so when Benny took the dog's bone it gave chase. Nothing magical or senseless about it.
It's too bad you didn't like it. It really is a great movie that captured what it was like to be young and outdoors all the time. Sadly, I fear new younger viewers will regard this movie much like you, as they will not have had the experiences to relate to the way these kids hung out.
Is there anything you liked about it? I mean, a 2-3 out of 10 is a pretty terrible score

It seems your main gripe is with the "supernatural dog." That storyline was only one part of the movie but I think you completely missed the point. It was not a "supernatural" dog. LOL. Hercules was just a big dog that lived in the fenced yard behind the sandlot. From the perspective of a kid, he was a beast. Up until Benny confronts the dog, they exaggerated the dog to allow the viewer to see it from the kid's point of view. It wasn't supernatural, the film simply showed the kids exaggerated perception of him. When Benny confronts him, we finally see the dog for what it really is, just a big dog that collects baseballs. The reason the dog only chases Benny is because he has his ball. Have you ever played fetch with a dog that loves to fetch balls? When you have the ball, he only chases you. Dog's have a one track mind, and Hercules wanted to get that ball from Benny. After the dog was injured and then rescued by the kids, they all became friends, and Hercules becomes part of the team. It may be silly and dumb, but there was nothing supernatural about it at all.

I'm an over 50 guy and will take a stab at your comments.
Like many others have already written, I enjoyed this movie and not for the acting but for the subject matter. Like the sandlot kids, I had a group of guys I hung out with and played nearly every sport available to kids of our age with them. Why was the dog portrayed as the antagonist? I remember being afraid of even small dogs when I was a kid; I was a skinny, short runt and nearly every animal on the face of the earth seemed huge to me. Only after hitting puberty and growing a little did things begin to seem a little smaller. Why did the dog chase only Benny? Because he was the only one who ran - he also had the ball but not sure if this is why old Herc chased him. Dogs tend to run after those who run from them; the same dogs who used to chase me (and sometimes make me delay walking the last 50 yards home b/c the route took me right past a house with two barky and chasy dogs - I would actually sit by the side of the road until my dad came home and grab a ride with him but always made it seem like I had just stepped off the bus) actually stopped short and looked up at me after a barking charge when I finally found the courage to stand my ground.
Oh, and I was the first of my group of buddies to move away. I didn't do a very good job of keeping in touch (no internet available in 1973 and I wasn't much of a letter writer at age 13) and have regretted it. You meet a lot of people as you move through life but friendships cultivated as adults are never quite the same as those which come from a schoolyard playground, or a sandlot . . .
Ah, reminiscing . . .
Whatever doesn't kill me only makes me stronger. How strong are you?

Awesome answer, couldn't agree more!
http://www.thenaughtypenguin.net/must-see-movies/the-sandlot/

So are you going to claim that Hercules never chased them at the end? Your explanation would make sense if not for the last 10 or so minutes.
I was not sheltered as a kid, though I do admit that I didn't play outside so often. However, I believe that this is an invalid argument to make. Stand by Me depicted childhood in a very different manner than my own. I still loved it.

Really? I think you may have been sheltered as a child, as in, you were not allowed outside to play with the other boys and girls in the neighborhood. Because obviously you don't recall the exaggeration and memories of your childhood. There was nothing supernatural about this movie involving the dog "Hercules", it was all about childhood perception and the stories that followed,"not based in any reality whatsoever".in case you were confused. which made "Hercules" a larger than life foe for the kids in 'The Sandlot'. Take the movie for what it is, not a coming of age film but a memory of childhood.well, not yours anyway.

I really feel sorry for you, you really forgot what it's like to be a kid