Bad News Bears

The director of Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise, SubUrbia, Waking Life, The School of Rock and other wee gems proves that everyone can strike out occasionally. Here Billy Bob pretty much reprises his role in Bad Santa - except it isn't Christmas, he's changed his costume and there is only a trace of comedy to behold. BBT stars as Morris Buttermaker, a once promising semi-professional baseball player, who has turned to pest disposal and the bottle since his fall from glory. For some (possibly valid) reason, he is hired to coach a little league team of misfits who couldn't hit a ball, never mind win a game, if they wanted to. The 12 year olds are unconformists, just like our main man, however can they all pull together and learn something? Probably. You get beyond caring after the first 20 minutes, and even that was a struggle fuelled by dedication to the profession.