Mr. 3000 is Bernie Mac's latest film and concerns a 47-year-old retired baseball player who has to get back into the game. It seems that Mac's character is overly proud of his 3000-game record only to discover that he is a few games short of the batting record. Therefore, he goes back into training in order to play again and reach the 3000-record. Trouble is, this is a new era of baseball and the young players look upon Bernie as a has-been. What to do?
The storyline mixes older adults with their foibles and young adults with their way of doing things. There is no hard rock music on the soundtrack and the mood is set by choosing music of a time period 10-20 years ago, thus setting the stage for someone who has to whip himself back into shape in a hurry with music of that generation to help him. What this reviewer appreciates is that the last track on the CD, "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Calvin Richardson and Claudette Ortiz is not in the film, only on the CD. This bit of notation for the audience is useful and I wish other record producers would do the same.
Music director John Powell wisely selected an easy-listening-but-rhythmic blend of songs to show the budding romance between Bernie Mac and Angela Bassett, a sportswriter. From Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star" and "Let's Groove" to War's "Why Can't We Be Friends," the attitude is confrontational, but mannered. These people are mature adults and not wont to rush into a quick romance. Tyrone Davis with "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" is subtle, while Ike Turner's instrumental, "Getting Nasty" suits that particular mood. However, it is Steve Lawrence's familiar ballad (in which he sounds like a young Frank Sinatra) "The Best Is Yet To Come" that ties it all together. Lawrence can still give younger singers a lesson in mood, timing and pronunciation to effortlessly get the point across.
2.5 tocks
