One of the most reliable movie plots has a bunch of losers (klutzes/ Dead End Kids/ prisoners) straighten out and fly right under the inspirational guidance of a gruff but kind-hearted (priest/teacher/prison warden).
In a kosher variation of this theme, “The Yankles” features a group of Yeshiva rabbis and students, fully outfitted with talaysim and flying payess, setting their hearts on competing In baseball’s college world series. But who will be the coach among the pious rabbis?
As luck would have it, major leaguer Charlie Jones (Brian Wimmer) has just been sentenced to 120 hours of community service after his third DUI arrest, and worse, dropping an easy fly ball in the deciding game of the (real) World Series.
Working with rotund Rabbi Meyer ( Kenneth F. Brown) as his assistant and Yiddish translator, and with Elliott (Michael Buster), a semi-pro player turned yeshiva bocher, Charlie miraculously whips the lads into shape.
In his spare time, Charlie romances Deborah (Susanne Sutchy), and though she reciprocates his affection, tells him that as a nice Jewish girl she cannot marry anyone outside the tribe.
But back to the real action – despite the machinations of an anti-Semitic league official, who sounds and looks a lot like Rush Limbaugh and schedules the deciding game on a Saturday, the Yankles make it to the championship playoff.
All right, it’s now the bottom of the ninth inning, the Yankles trail by one run, have two out and two on base, slugger Elliott at the plate has two strikes against him, here comes the pitch, Elliott swings…..
For the final score you’ll have to pick up a “Yankles” Blue-Ray or DVD at a retailer or through amazon.com.
Co-producers and directors are brothers David and Zev Brooks.
