Films of Youth

The Bad News Bears.

I would like to paint you a picture. I'm working at the Five Star Video in Berkeley, California. (Which I should mention is the LAST video rental establishment in all of Berkeley, and one of the 4 in the entire East Bay) and a man comes in with his posse of kids. He asks for baseball films for kids...little league...and remembers "Bad News Bears" but thinks for some reason it might be inappropriate. I assure him its not, but (not having seen it in years) if he feels skeptical the "Sandlot" is a great second choice (see previous "films of youth" post) He says he remembers loving the "bears" but needs to check with the other dad whose kids are also with him. Fair enough. Over the phone, the other dad for some reason remembers "sex and drugs" being part of the movie...I assure him (in store dad) that while I can't remember the specifics, I'm pretty positive there isn't either of those two things in the movie. While ratings were somewhat different back then, due to the difference in the times at large. A PG movie isn't going to let that slip in. The dad in store was skeptical as well and rented both just in case. Fair enough.

I discussed this blog with him and that I was reviewing films like the "bears" specifically because of questions and situations like this one. Parents should be aware that the older movies for kids aren't necessarily "worse" or "inappropriate" for todays kids. I realize now that its been a while since parents of 12 year olds have watch movies like this and the memory of them might be a little...dim.

I'm here to shed some light. Now. On to the "Bad News Bears".

First a personal note. When I played little league as a kid, I was on this team. I have a deep connection to this film because I feel I was there. But I didn't have a coach like Matthau, and we didn't make it to the playoffs, and I never played little league again. So, watching this really warms my heart to see these "unfavorable" kids make it all the way to the top.

I re-watched this wonderful film just the other night. I can, without a doubt, assure parents everywhere that there is neither drugs nor sex....of any kind...present in the "Bad News Bears".
There is however very colorful banter between the kids. And its sometimes....really colorful, clever, but colorful.

The story I feel is pretty familiar. But I'll do a quick refresh here.

Matthau is a down and out, drunk, ex ball player, pool man. He gets hired by a city official dad, to coach his sons little league team. Thinking its an easy paycheck, Matthau shows up, tells the kids to just get out there, and continues to drink until he passes out. The kids don't know what they're doing. And become the laughing stock of the league.

Eventually Matthau sees that these kids need a real coach and that the other adults seem to have already given up on this team of misfits. Matthau sobers up and trains this last place team of rejects & losers all the way to the championship game.

The thing that I noticed, is that these kids talk with purpose, they don't back down to the authority. They speak to the adults at the same level, as equals. I personally feel that this action, is sometimes misconstrued as being vulgar, when in actuality they're not really saying anything vulgar at all. Its defiance the kids project, not vulgarity...but sometimes they get a little vulgar.

Kids have an incredible ability to sense "bullshit" from adults. And its perfectly represented in this film. The kids call out the adults on their bullshit all day long, namely on Matthau's character. Only when treated with respect do the kids fall in line. And when the team is finally treated with respect, they start acting respectful.

I mean...who knew...who'd a thought that if you treat kids with respect that they just might act respectful. That is a big lesson in the movie.

Half way through the playoffs, Matthau tells the best player (A great Jackie Earl Haley) on the team to catch all the balls he can, and hit all the runs he can, no matter what. He doesn't want to chance any of the other players messing up the game for a win. The other kids catch on and Matthau gets called out again. And they go right back to the defiance.

Matthau learns that they were not so concerned with being the winners, they just wanted to play. And have fun, and if they won they won, or lose they lose. Its really just about being treated like they weren't screw ups. They wanted the dignity of playing the game to the best of their ability, all the way to the end.

Matthau lets go, everyone plays no matter what, everyone gets treated the same, and everyone has fun.
I have to mention how amazing Matthau's character is. Like that bemused uncle who isn't quite that responsible but has really strong morals, and always looks out for the best interests of the kids.

Its a really good movie about the whole spectrum of sportsmanship, from the relationship between the kids on the team, and most importantly the relationship between the coach and the kids. As well as knowing what's important about sportsmanship. Its not whether you win or lose, its how you play the game.

Very funny, vulgar enough to keep the older kids interested but not vulgar enough to damage the youngsters, lovable and a good hearted enough to keep the younger ones interested. And funny, entertaining scenes of baseball all around. A truly honest film.

My minimum age recommendation is 11yrs old.