BAD NEWS BEARS (2005 USA)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì

Bad News Bears—remake of the 1976 Bad News Bears with Walter Matthau—has spunk and fun built into nearly every scene as Billy Bob Thornton once again shows us his view of the world with a cast of children following his lead. In that following, the movie is a success for the mature audience. The script is good and well directed by Richard Linklater.

Storyline

Alcoholic Morris Buttermaker (Billy Bob Thornton), a former Seattle Mariners’ baseball pitcher, endeavors to be a better coach for the Bears, a children’s baseball team with poor game skills.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Richard Linklater for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Marcus Viscidi for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Morris Buttermaker (Billy Bob Thornton), Roy Bullock (Greg Kinnear), Liz Whitewood (Marcia Gay Harden), Amanda Whurlitzer (Sammi Kane Kraft), Toby Whitewood (Ridge Canipe), Mike Engelberg (Brandon Craggs), Kelly Leak (Jeffrey Davies), Tanner Boyle (Timmy Deters), Miguel Agilar (Carlos Estrada), Jose Agilar (Emmanuel Estrada), Matthew Hooper (Troy Gentile), and Ahmad Abdul Rahim (Kenneth Harris).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Billy Bob Thornton has his own onscreen charisma that is worth watching just for its own sake. He’s the backbone of this movie.

Ben Meyers