• The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978)

    Led by Marvin Lazar (Tony Curtis), their latest in a string of bumbling coaches, beleaguered Little Leaguers the Bad News Bears head to Japan to face off against coach Shimizu (Tomisaburô Wakayama) and a team of the best young baseball talents in the country. While a scheming Lazar tries to scare up big-time television money, the now-teenage Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley) falls for Arika (Hatsune Ishihara), a Japanese teenager who doesn't speak a word of English.

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The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
31
metacriticBased on 7 Critics

Release Date: 1978

DVD Release Date: February 12th, 2002

PG |1 hr 31 min

Plot Summary

Led by Marvin Lazar (Tony Curtis), their latest in a string of bumbling coaches, beleaguered Little Leaguers the Bad News Bears head to Japan to face off against coach Shimizu (Tomisaburô Wakayama) and a team of the best young baseball talents in the country. While a scheming Lazar tries to scare up big-time television money, the now-teenage Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley) falls for Arika (Hatsune Ishihara), a Japanese teenager who doesn't speak a word of English.

Cast: Tony Curtis, Jackie Earle Haley, Tomisaburô Wakayama, Hatsune Ishihara, George Wyner, Lonny Chapman, Matthew Anton, Erin Blunt

Director: John Berry

Genres: Comedy , Children

Production Co: Paramount

Keywords: Love , Underdog , Growing up , Hilarious , Heartwarming , 1970s ,

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 30
    Time Out

    Third and last in the Bad News series, with Curtis as a Hollywood hustler trying to make a buck exploiting the sad sack little league baseballers, but suffering the obligatory change of heart. Dire. show more

  • 50
    Variety

    Producer Michael Ritchie (who directed the first installment) and writer-creator Bill Lancaster encore with Japan resulting in a more vigorous film than the sodden Bad News Bears in Breaking Training. show more

  • 50
    The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

    Although director John Berry equips him with a bottle at every opportunity in an effort to recreate the bumbling but lovable charm of Matthau's performance, Curtis is never a sympathetic character. Curtis is by nature far too slick and suave a character ever to be a lovable curmudgeon. [04 July 1978]

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com