Bad News Bears, the: Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten, Ben Piazza, Jackie Earle Haley, Alfred Lutter III, Chris Barnes, Erin Blunt, Gary Lee Cavagnaro, Jaime Escobedo, Scott Firestone, John A. Alonzo, Michael Ritchie, Richard A. Harris, Stanley R. Jaffe, Bill Lancaster: Amazon.ca: Video

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Amazon.com Essential Video

This likable 1976 comedy gently skewers the whole post- Rocky mania for movies about losers who find their mettle or salvation or purpose in life in competitive sport. Walter Matthau stars as a drunk who becomes manager of a pathetic little-league baseball team. When he brings in a talented girl pitcher (Tatum O'Neal), the crew have an actual chance at winning some games and maybe a championship. But director Michael Ritchie (Downhill Racer) undercuts the romance of it all with the team's foul-mouthed tendencies and Matthau's own decadent spin on mentor-coachdom. Similarly to Ritchie's wicked comedy Smile --which lampooned the fervor surrounding beauty pageants--The Bad News Bears pokes fun at another American institution. --Tom Keogh

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Customer Reviews

36 Reviews

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
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Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (36 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic, realistic, non-syrupy story of Little League, April 12 2004

By

"pussycat334" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bad News Bears (Widescreen) (DVD)

Don't listen to other reviewers who impose today's political correctness on a movie that came out in 1976. My parents took me to see this film when it came out (I was nine) and it was a good film. It has lessons about winning, losing and sportsmanship. It touches upon characters we all know: the winning coach (played wonderfully by the late Vic Morrow) who values winning above all else - even his own son. A realistic film from the 1970s, reflecting divorced parents, precocious kids, bullies, all of it is in here. Above all, it is a positive statement about self-respect and accomplishment. While Matthau's ways of coaching would probably be protested today (i.e., giving the kids beer after the final game of the season) it was seen as true to his character and one of the funny touches. Some of the material is mature but it may spark some positive conversations in a family. It isn't watered down, squeaky-clean family fare that people expect today, but it does have a good message and is fun. Excellent performances by a great cast, realistic baseball playing (sometimes painful) and great moments. A classic 1970s film that is often overlooked.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad my little league is not like this., Nov 10 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bad News Bears (Widescreen) (DVD)

This is not a good movie for kids. There was a lot of bad language, and there was a lot of yelling and people were angry.
But, at the end, I liked where the team that beat the Bears apologized for being mean to the Bears throughout the season. That is the reason that I gave the movie two stars.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a family movie, Oct 12 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bad News Bears (Widescreen) (DVD)

This movie is so full of bad language that after I seen it myself, I decided to keep it from my kids. I was surprised that I liked the movie when it first came out in the 70's. I actually read the novel when I was in junior high. This movie is a thing of the past like the hippies. DON'T BUY IT.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic entry from Walter Matthau...
The original Bad News Bears is a classic featuring Walther Matthau and a youthful Tatum O'Neil. Walt plays an aging
ex-pitcher saddled with coaching a team of 12-year old... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Canuck Teach

5.0 out of 5 stars All time favorite movie growing up
The reason I was a tom boy, playin' ball till the age of 36. Had a crush on Tanner Boyle ;)

Published on April 12 2010 by Cheryl Davenport