Nowadays, more people might know the cartoon character Yogi Bear or the saying “It ain’t over ‘till its over,” more than they know Yogi Berra, the larger-than-life baseball player who originated the character and the phrase. But in his prime, Berra was one of the most recognizable faces of major league baseball. He was so beloved that he appeared in countless commercials and effortlessly won the hearts of Americans. It Ain’t Over, however, makes a case about Berra being more than just a public figure and how he was one of the best players of all time. The documentary, which is equal parts stats, archival footage, and anecdotes, is convincing without ever being forceful or desperate about its arguments. Berra’s innate warmth and charm carry over in this biography, regardless of whether he’s telling the stories himself or his friends and family regale us with tales of the icon. You don’t have to know much about baseball to enjoy Berra’s life story unfold; having a basic appreciation of storytelling and kindhearted people will suffice.
""It Ain't Over" works the way it's supposed to work."
— Sheila O'Malley
The life and times of New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra, a 10 time World Series champion whose unique personality and unforgettable Yogi-isms sometimes got in the way of his being recognized as one of baseball’s greatest players.
It Ain’t Over examines the prolific career of New York Yankees icon Yogi Berra and the role he played not just in American baseball, but in the country’s collective pop culture consciousness.
There is a funny bit in the documentary where director Sean Mullin pulls out well-known adages from wise men like Albert Einstein and Robert Frost and compares them to things Yogi has famously said. Yogi-isms, as they’re called, like “When you see a strike, hit it” or “If you can't imitate him, don't copy him” might sound more like malapropisms than aphorisms, but their meanings are explained and justified so lovingly and respectfully that you can help but go, “If you know, you know.”
Honestly, I can’t tell a home run from a hit and run, but watching this gave me the warm fuzzies.
