Review of Bad News Bears (2005) by Dave A — 05 Jun 2010

I can only wonder how many zeroes were added to Billy Bob Thornton's paycheck to take a crack at a role made immortal by Walter Matthau, following that of an ex-minor league pitcher who loves booze.

Thornton plays yet another misanthrope in this PG-13 version of the 70's classic (which should've been rated PG-13, if not R). But this sanitized effort is a paycheck role for all involved, particularly Thornton and director Linklater (known for bouncing between experimental movies with studio fare).

There's something deeply hollow about the film overall, and it just doesn't work as if each moment just lines up without any kind of natural rhythm to it. Kinnear plays yet another bastard, and he's quite good at it, and Thornton is reliable as always, but the film misfires from it's lack of grounding.