Marcia Gay Harden,Greg Kinnear,Billy Bob Thornton // Billy Bob Thornton stars in this film remake. The laughs fly faster than 90-mph
pitches when a down-&-out former minor leaguer becomes the coach of a woeful
Little League team. Extras included faturettes, deleted scenes, outtakes, and
commentary.Hollywood's tradition of remaking classic movies
continues with this 21st-century updating of the 1976 romp, THE BAD NEWS BEARS.
Acclaimed director Richard Linklater (THE SCHOOL OF ROCK, DAZED AND CONFUSED)
pays respect to Michael Ritchie's original film by updating it rather than
reinventing it. Stepping into the tough-to-fill shoes of Walter Matthau, Billy
Bob Thornton plays the liquor-swilling, foulmouthed Morris Buttermaker, who has
agreed to coach a Little League team for the paycheck. Unfortunately for him,
his assembled team consists of the league's most inept outcasts. Gradually,
however, Buttermaker's determination wins out, to the point where he recruits an
ex-girlfriend's gifted daughter, Amanda Whurlitzer (Sammi Kane Kraft), to step
onto the pitcher's mound. The team is complete when local bad boy Kelly Leak
(Jeffrey Davies) lends his overflowing talent to the cause. Soon, the Bears are
climbing their way to the top of the standings, resulting in a championship
showdown with the Yankees, who are managed by the ridiculously pompous Coach
Bullock (Greg Kinnear). As with 2003's THE SCHOOL OF ROCK, Linklater proves he
has an uncanny ability to draw out compelling performances from child actors.
But it is Thornton who steals the show. Incorporating elements from his
characters in BAD SANTA and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, his variation on the Morris
Buttermaker character is another finely crafted achievement, a reprehensible man
who somehow remains likeable and compelling. The script from Glenn Ficarra and
John Requa throws a few modern curveballs into the mix, yet they still remain
faithful to Bill Lancaster's original vision, resulting in a crowd-pleasing film
that is definitely not intended for young children.