Movie Review: Bad News Bears (2005)
Critical Movie Critic: General Disdain | Published on: August 14, 2005 |
Filed under: Comedy, Sporting
Directed By: Richard Linklater
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Greg Kinnear, Marcia Gay Harden
IMDB Link: Bad News Bears
Movie Trailer:
Finally! A movie that I was actually interested in seeing. Why? Three reasons really. One: Bad News Bears is quite a good movie and I think a well done remake couldn’t hurt it. Two: Billy Bob Thornton. Three: Billy Bob Thornton. . .oh yeah I said that one already.
The premise of this masterpiece, is a washed up, drunken loser (orignally played by Walter Matthau and now by Thornton) is asked to coach a little league team comprised of misfits, juvenile delinquents and other oddballs. In the end, of course, the children and the coach both learn valuable life lessons, etc. It’s a good ‘ole feel good about yourself kind of movie.
So what’s my take on the remake?. . .it could have, should have been better. The movie falls short of the character development of the original. It almost pains me to say it, but Matthau, plays a more convincing, caring and gasp, a more drunken Morris Buttermaker. This is not to say that Billy Bob plays the part poorly. Mr. Thornton is undeniably the best drunken asshole in our times (see Bad Santa). Another irritating facet of the movie was the attempt to reshoot nearly all the scenes of the original. From my standpoint, Bad News Bears didn’t need to just be reshot with new actors in it, it should have followed the original idea of the movie and brought it into the 21st century. Instead we have a few poor attempts at updating the picture inbetween a newly filmed original.
What you will find though, is the movie is funny. My wife and I found ourselves laughing out loud during several sequences. So long as it isn’t your kid, watching children curse up a storm is funny. And you’ll get a shitload of that here. And as previously said, you can’t go wrong having Thornton playing an obnoxious, drunk asshole.
My suggestion, would be to watch this movie. You will enjoy yourself, especially if you have children (although I wouldn’t recommend watching with your young ones). Next, I would suggest, renting the original movie. You’ll enjoy yourself watching this one too. Afterwards, compare. I think you’ll agree the original has a little something extra about it.
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About: General Disdain I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies. |
