MovieChat Forums > The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977) Discussion > Thoughts... then vs. now

Thoughts... then vs. now

posted 10 years ago by KatrinaW
9 replies | jump to latest

I remember seeing this in theaters when first released, and loving it (and having a huuuuge crush on the kid who played Toby - go figure!).

Just watched it again after many years (and now that I'm a parent) and all I can think is: why aren't those kids wearing seat belts in the van? How old is Kelly supposed to be, and does he really know how to drive? How did the parents just drop their kids off at the house of a coach they've never even met? Kelly's dad just abanoned the family and never saw his kid again? Etc., etc.

It's definitely a slice of 70's life, and things sure were different back then. Not very PC, but somehow more innocent.

[–] freejazz38 10 years ago

Will always be one of my favorite movies of all time, and yes, I agree with you about the 70's

[–] daverindone 10 years ago

Totally! Times seemed more relaxed back then as a kid and teenager. I'm not not one of those people who bitch about everyone being online, but if there was no smartphones and/or internet, you either became a recluse or went out and did something - like little league.

Seatbelts were never really enforced. You'd see station wagons packed full of people, so the van o'kids wouldn't raise any concern.

As far as parents trusting "Coach Eastland", they really didn't give it much thought at the kids said they trusted them. These days, you need a CORI check, etc, before even becoming as Assistant. Most of the parents I knew were cool if you arrived home in one piece.

I'd pin Kelly at 17, maybe 18. He could work a Harley and, as he said, he was "born to drive."

It appeared that Mike Leak did, in fact, leave when Kelly was young. It would explain his teen rebel/anger issues, so it was nice that they were able to reconcile.

One of my all time favorite movies, it just bleeds '70's.

[–] Ditto-head 10 years ago

I think Kelly was supposed to be 13, although he looks older. Didn't he say something to his father about how he was five when Mike left eight years ago?

I'd say this was a bit about the times- the more relaxed parents, lack of seat belts, etc. But it's also a kids' movie, meant to appeal to its audience by showing kids doing things that are highly improbable: tricking their parents, going on a wild road trip, reading Playboys, checking into hotels alone, pigging out on fast food, and playing in a major league park.

[–] MortimerSpice 9 years ago

Well this was supposed to be Little League so kids would've been 11 and 12....maybe a few that just turned 13 during the season.

But yea, I love the movie, grew up watching it but as I got older the funniest thing to me was Kelly just walking around Houston, Tx by himself at that age. Smoking cigs at practice is also really funny.

[–] ReturnOfWhiskey 9 years ago

It's definitely a slice of 70's life, and things sure were different back then. Not very PC, but somehow more innocent.

That's EXACTLY why the 70's were more innocent and fun. Liberal douchebags have ruined this country with their PC nonsense. Man do we need a Republican President back in the Oval Office now more than ever.



[–] sage2112 8 years ago

Agreed. PC is sucking the life out of everything. The '70s were way cooler than things are now.

[–] UN_Jefferson 8 years ago

Wasn't this supposed to be the year after the first movie so you could argue he was just barely 14 maybe.

[–] nutsberryfarm 8 years ago

no airbags in their cars either.

🎄Season's Greetings!🎄

[–] KatrinaW 8 years ago

But there were definitely ashtrays!