The best reason to see Richard Linklater's wholly unnecessary but highly enjoyable remake of The Bad News Bears is Billy Bob Thornton, who's doing a PG-13 version of his Bad Santa.

Fortunately almost everyone acquits himself coolly and admirably.

Billy Bob Thornton has proven he can do pretty much anything, but he simply does not look haggard, washed-up or miserable enough to be a believable Morris Buttermaker, the role Walter Matthau immortalized.

The least distinctive film Richard Linklater has ever made, as he's constrained & confined by sports-movie mandates. But the inklings of intriguing, dark ideas creep out at times during the film alongside fun, big-boss insults from Billy Bob Thornton.