If you grew up in the 1970s or have a fondness for films made it during that time, you no doubt reserve a special affection for coming of age films that celebrate the underdog — movies like Breaking Away and My Bodyguard. A classic from that rough-and-tumble hall of fame, The Bad News Bears, can be seen today at 3 p.m. at our area's beloved, historical movie palace, Tampa Theatre. It's part of the film's Spring Training Classic Series celebrating baseball films.
[jump]The 1976 film stars Walter Matthau as Morris Buttermaker, a curmudgeonly drunk who works by day as a pool cleaner and takes on a Little League Coaching team position to fend off the loan sharks. What he doesn't bargain for is a team of misbehaving misfits. Two talents emerge and take the team to the big championship game: pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O’Neal), the daughter of an ex-girlfriend, and Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley), a motorcycle-riding punk.
If you can't make it to the classic movie screening, the 6 p.m. showing of Inside Llewyn Davis offers a free bag of buttery goodness in celebration of National Popcorn Day. For more info about Tampa Theatre events, prices and other details, visit tampatheatre.org.