A league apart is what I would consider a quintessential 90s movie, one that everyone should see at least once. It won’t be possible because it’s a movie you can watch over and over again. Plus, it features an all-star cast, from Tom Hanks to Geena Davis to Madonna.
It was a tall order for Will Graham and Abbi Jacobson, adapting a classic sports comedy into a reimagined streaming series. They approached the plate and took big swings, which resulted in a home run. It pays homage to the original film and breathes new life into it by spotlighting the queer community of the 1940s.
A league apart
Gay women and men have been around for a long time, even back when it was considered illegal. I can’t think of the last time I saw him represented so much during this period. I especially enjoyed the queer portrayal of black women, which I don’t think I’ve seen in a movie or series set in the 1940s before.
Abbi Jacobson wore a lot of hats on this series, not only starring, but also co-creating and executive producing. It’s a big company and she was certainly up to the task. Jacobson’s character, Carson, takes on the role of Geena Davis, even playing the same position Davis played in the movie. Carson is a woman trying to figure out who she is as a person. her husband Charlie (played by Patrick J. Adams) went off to fight in World War II, and she tried her luck by joining the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
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This leads her to explore her sexuality as she enters into a relationship with Greta, played by D’Arcy Carden. The two not only have great comedic chemistry, but also romantically. Greta knows exactly who she is and what she wants, and both characters have their ups and downs. Carson also gets help learning more about his sexuality from pitcher Lupe, played by Roberta Colindrez. Unlike Greta who is feminine, Lupe is a more masculine queer woman and although she and Carson have their differences, they ultimately come together for the Rockford Peaches.
The character who has a parallel journey with Carson is Max, played by Chanté Adams. As a 1940s black woman who wants to play baseball, she has her challenges more than anyone. She’s not welcome to play in the All-American Girls League because she’s black and she can’t play on the desegregated team because she’s a woman. She also has a whole experience with her family, which I totally didn’t expect but really appreciated in terms of representation.
Overall, the series does a great job of respecting the original film while making a name for itself. It features an excellent cast and guest stars, including Nick Offerman as Casey “Dove” Porter and Rosie O’Donnell as Vi; O’Donnell also starred in the original film. The baseball work is fantastic and electric, even more so than the movie. I would recommend watching the series when it releases tomorrow on Prime Video, as well as watching the original movie if for some reason you haven’t yet!
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