Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says 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
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Positive messages: Lots of bad behavior all around.
What to watch for
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Violence: Children frequently scuffle. Father slaps son. Coach throws things at his players (including a can of beer).
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Sexy stuff: Female maturation comes up.
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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).
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The star 11-year-old player smokes. During the end celebration, the coach gives beer to the 11-year-olds.