“Bad News Bears,” for all its intents, is just another example of an all-too-faithful remake of a classic. Unfortunately, with the filmmaker’s effort to capture the heart of the original, the film sputters to find its own soul.

| Original Score: C | Jul 4, 2024

Delights in confronting - and stomping on - the kind of political correctness that simply didn't exist in 1976 when the first one was made

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jan 31, 2021

[W]hen one character looks down at a can of beer and remarks, 'Non-alcoholic? What's the point?' it feels a bit like the film is unknowingly judging itself.

| Jan 20, 2020

An amiable enough remake of the 1976 classic that is helped greatly by some very funny work by Billy Bob Thornton.

| Original Score: B- | Nov 19, 2019

Bad News Bears finds Linklater marking time professionally enough -- and while hardly essential viewing, it's unpretentious, amoral fun.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 25, 2019

The best reason to see Richard Linklater's wholly unnecessary but highly enjoyable remake of The Bad News Bears is Billy Bob Thornton, who's doing a PG-13 version of his Bad Santa.

| May 13, 2014

Fortunately almost everyone acquits himself coolly and admirably.

| May 13, 2014

Billy Bob Thornton has proven he can do pretty much anything, but he simply does not look haggard, washed-up or miserable enough to be a believable Morris Buttermaker, the role Walter Matthau immortalized.

| May 13, 2014

It's no Bad Santa, but it's fun.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 13, 2014

Having cast a knowing eye on teen debauchery in Dazed and Confused and coaxed a stellar performance out of Jack Black in School of Rock, the director is just the man to launch a surprise spitwad attack in the current culture wars.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 13, 2014

If you're looking for another Adam Sandler/Jack Black comic masterpiece, this isn't it. It is, though, Billy Bob Thornton at his best, dropping analogies that would make a Hooters waitress blush.

| Original Score: 3/4 | May 13, 2014

Even if you never saw the original Bad News Bears, you've probably seen this movie. You know, the one where the reluctant coach pulls together the ragtag bunch of misfits and teaches them important lessons about teamwork.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 13, 2014

Linklater's spirit is true: Practice still unfolds to the waltz of Carmen. Sentiment is avoided at all costs.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 13, 2014

Director Richard Linklater has wisely stayed with the structure of the 1976 classic (with Walter Matthau in the Butterworth role) but populated it with dialogue from Bad Santa's Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.

| May 13, 2014

Thornton [knocks] every one-liner out of the park with the free rein Linklater allows him, though a picked-up pace would've been welcome.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 8, 2014

Thornton is the real reason to watch. He plays most of his scenes with an understated unrepentant scumbaggishsness that makes him easy to simultaneously hate and like. It's a tricky balance to pull off, but he manages it well.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jan 7, 2011

Linklater's "Bad News Bears" doesn't approach the giddy comedy of Ritchie's original, but it does inspire an attentive contemplation on the similarities and differences between adults and children in approaching the game of life.

| Original Score: B- | Jun 21, 2009

Linklater's directorial prowess can not be argued, but "Bad News Bears" just isn't good enough to watch again...

| Apr 29, 2009

There are worse ways to spend an afternoon.

| Original Score: B | Jul 23, 2007

Bad News Bears is packed with laughs, but almost all of them are cheaply won

| Mar 1, 2007