Mr 3000

Bernie Mac is perfectly cast in Mr. 3000, a feel-good baseball comedy that capitalizes on Mac's established comedy persona. He plays Stan Ross, veteran first-baseman for the struggling Milwaukee Brewers, who quit the team during a pennant race and, nine years later, discovers that he's actually three hits short of his 3,000 career-hit claim to fame. When he attempts a comeback to correct his record, his selfish past returns to haunt him, along with a former flame (Angela Bassett, who deserves better roles) who's covering Stan's return to baseball for ESPN. It's strictly formula, but the comedy is consistently entertaining, and director Charles Stone III proves that his 2002 sleeper hit Drumline was no fluke, injecting observant details into a very predictable plotline. Easily recommended, Mr. 3000 makes a good double-header with 1989's hit baseball comedy Major League. --Jeff Shannon