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THE BAD NEWS BEARS
 By Rachel Deahl Review Film Critic All child actors are not created equal. Richard Linklater proves this fact mercilessly in "The Bad News Bears." Attempting to recreate the whimsical magic of his last studio effort, the child-friendly music-inspired comedy "School of Rock," the director tries to capitalize on the blue collar heart of the 1976 original with overwhelmingly stiff and disappointing results.
Ironically, while Tim Burton's
reimagined version of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" was
drawing fire from angry fans who felt that some movies should never be
remade, it's Linklater's reductive 21st
century take on "Bears" that proves the summer's most disappointing
update of a cult favorite.
For kids who have never seen the original
"Bears" movie, arguably one of the better baseball films ever made,
Linklater's mostly faithful remake is rife with infantile humor. With
its cast of trash-talking tikes, who shout profanities and flip each
other the finger in between batting practice, kids will undoubtedly
enjoy the stupid gags in the movie.
But for the grown-ups who know better,
and most likely remember a hunched Walter Mattheau presiding over
a motley crew of little leaguers, the more adult humor here will feel
repetitive at best and crass at worst.
Presumably hoping to cast little kids who
could both act and play baseball, as he did in "School of Rock" (the
adorable tikes from that film actually sang and played their
instruments), Linklater fills "Bad News Bears" with a less-than-dynamic
line-up of child actors.
Most notably, the young actress
attempting to fill the large shoes left by Tatum O'Neal (who
played the talented female pitcher and precocious pre-teen Amanda), is
much more ball player than an actress. Looking as if she wants to thrust
her head away from the camera every time it focuses on her, newcomer
Sammi Kraft shows none of the style, grace or worldliness that
O'Neal did in the original.
Consequently, the relationship between
Buttermaker and Amanda, which is meant to provide the foundation for the
pat underdog-comes-from-behind storyline, falls apart. Where Mattheau
and O'Neal shined together on-screen, Billy Bob Thornton (in the
role of Buttermaker) and Kraft share a series of awkward exchanges that
seem more like acting lessons than heartfelt conversations.
For his part, Thornton, doing a more
toned-down version of his character from "Bad Santa," is fine as
the washed-up former ball player-cum-coach, Morris Buttermaker. Looking
more lively and athletic than Mattheau ever did in the original,
Thornton gamely guzzles beer and leers at women's breasts. But, for all
of Thornton's PG-13 inappropriateness here, the joke seems flat after
seeing the actor vomit, curse and urinate his way through "Bad Santa."
Ultimately what Linklater's remake lacks
isn't just strong performances, it's the subtle nod to the way in which
little league baseball often brings out the best in kids and the worst
in adults.
In the 1976 original, the sports metaphor-in life, as in baseball, is it best to play to win or just to simply play?-is driven home in a more muted way. Here, as Linklater tries to recreate the chronology of the first film, that well-played metaphor becomes a loud, blaring message. Grade: C- |
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