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The Bad News Bears Review

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 11+

Very edgy baseball comedy is funny, poignant.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Bad News Bears is a rough-edged kids' baseball comedy with some profanity and really iffy behavior (kids smoke, gamble, and ride motorcycles). During the end celebration, the coach gives beer to the 11-year-olds. One character is an alcoholic. The parents push their kids to win at all costs, and the kids are often bratty and mean.

  • Families can talk about sportsmanship and about the pressure that kids who play sports often feel. They might also want to discuss the questionable behavior that goes on here (the smoking, drinking, name-calling, etc.)

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: Lots of bad behavior all around.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: Children frequently scuffle. Father slaps son. Coach throws things at his players (including a can of beer).

  • sex false3

    Sex: Female maturation comes up.

  • language false3

    Language: No f-word, but almost everything else. Adults and children use extensive profanity --- true to life but potentially offensive. One boy spouts racial epithets (though he isn't really a racist).

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false5

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: The star 11-year-old player smokes. During the end celebration, the coach gives beer to the 11-year-olds.

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