This film carried the burden of following up an American classic in the original, therefore being set up to be considered a disappointment by those (read: everyone/non-terrorists) who enjoyed the first. What saved The Sandlot 2 from being a complete disaster was a magnificent performance by the delightful Samantha Burton. Throughout the 97 minutes, Hayley Goodfairer will have you laughing, crying, before leaving you with a newfound belief in love with a kiss so passionate it rivals (dare I say surpasses?) the iconic kiss shared by the Notebook's Allie and Noah amidst the pouring rain. It was one of those once-in-a-generation performances where an actress puts the entire cast and crew on her shoulders and says "I will NOT let this movie suck!" Her ability to take a bunch of no-name actors and save them from the mediocrity that is their own talent (or lack thereof) when it is all said and done may go down as the single greatest cinematographic accomplishment since the invention of the moving picture. If she can stay away from the failings that often do in child stars, drugs, alcohol, hipsters with man-buns, I can say with as much certainty as I can say that I am going to die one day, that Samantha Burton will have won 15+ Oscars by the time it is all said and done.
