More than the "The" has been dropped from "Bad News Bears," Richard Linklater's remake of the wonderful 1976 underdog comedy, starring Walter Matthau as Buttermaker, a grumpy old Little League coach, and Tatum O'Neal as Amanda, his star pitcher. The sweetness is gone. The sense of unforced kid rowdiness. And, most crucially, due to a bad casting decision, the central relationship between the coach and his star player. In their stead are Hooters girls, nonstop filthy language that really pushes the PG-13 envelope, cheesy sex jokes and a great big hole where the Buttermaker/Amanda story should be. Read the full review
Grizzled former professional baseball player Morris Buttermaker is recruited to coach the Bears, a woefully inept Little League team. He must find a way to drive this gang of 12 misfits to a championship against their hated rivals.
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Greg Kinnear, Marcia Gay Harden, Timmy Deters, Sammi Kane Kraft
Run time: 111 minutes
Release date: July 22, 2005
Rating: PG-13 for rude behavior, language throughout, some sexuality and thematic elements.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: C-
"Most of the humor comes from trying to be as raunchy as possible. True, the 1976 picture wasn't exactly angelic, but the stuff here is cruder, cheaper, more obvious."
Austin American-Statesman: 2 of 5 stars
"...a shoddy and superfluous copy."
Middletown Journal: B+
"The movie's home run is the casting of Thornton, who at least matches Walter Matthau's portrayal by giving Buttermaker the same world-weary crustiness that made him so funny in Bad Santa."
The Palm Beach Post: C+
"It would really help your enjoyment of this movie if you never saw the earlier one."
The Palm Beach Post "Flick Chick"
"Weird. Rude. Cute. Just like your kid."
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