reward for both adult and child and this funny and astute movie revel in poke the rib of little league baseball whilst cast a cautionary eye of the obsession some have with win . an on form walter matthau star a morris buttermaker and a now wash up ex minor league player who and prompt by a financial carrot and become manager of a multi racial team of little league misfit . it originally a rough road a buttermaker be more concerned with drinking beer and while the kid themselves do not know which end of the bat to hold . but thing start to pick up when morris enlist his talented daughter manda { tatum oneal ) to pitch for them . not only that but the town rebel and kelly leak ( jackie earl hayley ) and with point to prove and have also be prompt to join . direct by michael ritchie and write by bill lancaster ( yes and burt son ) and the bad news bear never sink to be a preachy fable . it also delightfully doesn not resort to type for it finale . make this a very clever and aware film from a genre of film so often troubled by safe playing and a too frothy approach . it would spawn two so so sequels in the next two year and inspire an imitation and get a tv series make over and be remake in 2005 with billy bob thornton take on the role of buttermaker . 7 . 5/10 .