At last, a picture of kids as they really are.

Starring: Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten, Ben Piazza, Jackie Earle Haley, Alfred Lutter III, Chris Barnes, Erin Blunt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Listen, Lupus, you didn't come into this life just to sit around on a dugout bench, did ya? Now get your ass out there and do the best you can." - Coach Morris Buttermaker

Why watch this? It's an irreverent and wonderful coming-of-age film about youth baseball.

Plot Summary: The Bears are embarrassments on the Little League baseball diamond. The parents hire a wore-out, beer-guzzling former minor leaguer, Morris Buttermaker, to whip the team into shape. After one practice, he decides to bring in a troublesome punk, and the daughter of one of his old girlfriends, who happens to be a good pitcher. Can the lowly Bears make the playoffs? Perhaps they can even avenge their painful loss to the well-financed Yankees.

Dad's Preview: I remember watching this when I was their age. My jaw was agape as these young actors cursed like sailors. But it was funny as heck. Matthau is perfect as the dry, jaded Buttermaker, however it's the sassy Tatum O'Neal who steals all the bases in this coming-of-age gem.

Stanley R. Jaffe; Paramount Pictures