Should you bring the kids? Yes. This is a sweet, old-fashioned story with nary a light saber or robot in sight. That's such a rarity these days. For more info, see "Bringing the Kids" below.

THE STORY: Young Yankee Irving (Jake T. Austin) isn't exactly the biggest kid on the block. In fact, the older kids make fun of him, especially during the softball games at the neighborhood sandlot.

But Yankee has big dreams -– mostly about baseball. He wears a Yankee cap, collects baseball cards, and plasters his room with pictures of players and souvenir banners. Mostly, he loves visiting his dad, Stanley (Mandy Patinkin) at his job at Yankee Stadium.

Things take a turn for the worse when Babe Ruth's (Brian Dennehy) bat goes missing from the locker room during the 1932 World Series. Worst of all, the theft happened on Stanley's shift, so he ends up getting fired over the crime. Still, he tries to keep a brave face and follow the advice he constantly gives Yankee: "Always keep swingin'."

Yankee makes a disturbing connection between the person he saw in the locker room, Lefty Maginnis (William H. Macy), and the missing bat (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg) and decides to take matters into his own hands. He and his new friend, a wise-cracking baseball named Screwie (Rob Reiner), set off on an adventure to find and return the missing bat, named Darlin'. "I have to do this for my dad," says Yankee, so he trails the thief onto a bus and steals the bat back, causing a scuffle in the process.

Yankee decides to take the bat to Babe Ruth in Chicago, where the Yankees are playing the Cubs. Along the way, he meets up with an assortment of characters, including some hobos and a fun-loving tomboy named Marti (Raven Symone), who's energetic and sassy and gives as good as she gets. Her Dad plays for the Cincinnati Tigers, which is part of the Negro League.

NOTE: This was director Christopher Reeve's project at the time of his death. As a tribute, Fox picked up the project and hired a great cast, including Reeves' widow, Dana (the voice of Yankee's Mom), who sadly passed away before the film's completion. Despite its heart-breaking heritage, this movie is old-school family fun and a real heartwarmer.

BRINGING THE KIDS:

PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5): With a G rating, this is one of the few movies this year that's ok for preschoolers. The talking baseball and bat are cool (and so expressive!), but even little ones will pick up on the message of putting family first and persevering against the odds. Slapstick violence includes Lefty getting kicked in the face and falling onto a railroad track. Yankee's road trip sparks a few scenes of peril, and crudeness includes the words "butt," "bugger," and one fart joke. But overall, this is a fairly tame movie that's good for all ages.

GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6 - 10): Baseball, kids, family, honor ...what a nice legacy left by Christopher and Dana Reeve. Though a bit formulaic (let's face it -- we've been desensitized by fast-moving films), this movie offers a positive message about doing the right thing and never giving up. It also reminds grade-schoolers that dreams really can come true and that we should always put family first, even if it means going to the ends of the earth to set things right. With so many anti-role-models these days, this one's a winner.

TWEEN / TEEN (ages 11+): While this movie definitely skews younger, the evergreen story, fun characters, GREAT cast, and snappy tunes by Click Five and others appeal to kids of all ages.  Also, the voice of Raven might bring in tweens who watch her Disney Channel show, "That's So Raven". You can't help but think of Christopher and Dana Reeve during this movie, because it's all about getting through the tough times with help from friends and family…sigh…