The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training ** (1977, William Devane, Clifton James, Jackie Earle Haley) – Classic Movie Review 13,805

Paramount Pictures’ 1977 sports comedy drama sequel film The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training stars William Devane, Clifton James and Jackie Earle Haley.

Director Michael Pressman’s 1977 Paramount Pictures American sequel sports comedy drama film The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training stars William Devane, Clifton James and Jackie Earle Haley.

The Bad News is the magic doesn’t work twice. In this first sequel to the 1976 hit The Bad News Bears, there are no Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal here, just William Devane, Clifton James and Jackie Earle Haley (though that is not necessarily a bad thing in itself), plus the original kiddie team of Erin Blunt, Jaime Escobedo, George Gonzalez, Alfred W Lutter, Brett Marx, David Pollock, Quinn Smith, David Stambaugh.

This time the Bears can’t find a coach when they are invited to play at the Houston Astrodome, so Kelly Leak (Haley) gets his estranged dad Mike Leak (Devane) to help.

Unfortunately there is more sentimentality and dim comedy than there are funny bits. It is blanded out, and the foul language as well as the quality of the first Bad News Bears film are largely missing. Nevertheless, the talented and welcome William Devane, Clifton James and Jackie Earle Haley are game for it.

Release date: July 8, 1977.

Running time: 99 minutes.

Next: The Bad News Bears go to Japan.

Cast: William Devane, Clifton James, Jackie Earle Haley, Jimmy Baio, Chris Barnes, Erin Blunt, Jaime Escobedo, George Gonzalez, Alfred W Lutter, Brett Marx, David Pollock, Quinn Smith, David Stambaugh, Dolph Sweet, Lane Smith, Pat Corley.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,805

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