An exciting family picture, worthy of viewing, if only for the warm-fuzzy feeling.

| Original Score: B | Oct 20, 2007

Stereotypes are meant to exalt small-town values, but The Final Season is proof that it's hard to paint masterpiece in broad strokes.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Oct 12, 2007

Perhaps if Disney had gotten their hands on it, The Final Season would have gotten the spitball polish it needs.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 12, 2007

Why is it enjoyable to watch sporting events depicted when we know how the games will end -- how they have to end? Where does the tension come from? Why do we care when we know already?

| Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 12, 2007

Remarkably, the movie rights itself once the actual season begins, focusing on game strategy more than the usual heart-stopping pep talks.

| Oct 12, 2007

The US corn surplus is in no way eased by The Final Season, an Iowa high school baseball saga that goes heavy on the inspiration, sports-movie cliches, and high-fructose syrup.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 12, 2007

Kind of Hoosiers: Part 2. But the storytelling is so backassward that it's impossible to care about any of the characters or really engage in the movie whatsoever.

| Original Score: .5/5 | Oct 12, 2007

Despite its small size, Norway Iowa is large enough to contain every stereotype known to man.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Oct 11, 2007

The Final Season is as corny as an Iowa farm field, but as the World Series rolls around, fans of the sport might want to check out this tried-and-true tale of overcoming adversity, beating the odds and banding together for a righteous cause.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 11, 2007

In The Final Season, high school baseball gives a small town its pride and identity. And quells teenage rebellion. And helps foster two separate romances. And cures cancer.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Oct 11, 2007

The film's climactic baseball game does crackle with nail-biting energy, but the 90-minute lead-up is full of hokey sentiment and unearned gushiness.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Oct 11, 2007

Though a nice change of pace from the usual sports flick's incessant rah-rah sentimentality, Evans and his film forget that you can't win too many games if you don't occasionally swing for the fences.

Full Review | Oct 11, 2007

Star and executive producer Sean Astin must have hoped for another Rudy with this based-on-a-true-story sports picture, but The Final Season is actually an impassioned plea against school consolidation.

| Oct 11, 2007

Poor writing, an indifferent production and sincere but often wooden acting make Season one big strikeout.

Full Review | Oct 9, 2007

There's not quite as much corn in The Final Season as there is in the Iowa farm fields that run through it, but it's close.

Full Review | Oct 9, 2007