The Comeback Trail (2020)
- Star Cast: Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, Zach Braff, Emile Hirsch
- Director: George Gallo
- Release: November 12, 2020
- Revenue: $2,407,255
Movie Overview | The Comeback Trail
Tagline: Hollywood has never pulled a stunt like this!
SynopsisTwo movie producers who owe money to the mob set up their aging movie star for an insurance scam to try and save themselves. But they wind up getting more than they ever imagined.
Writer Harry Hurwitz (based on a film)
Screenplay
George Gallo,
Josh Posner
Producer
Patrick Hibler,
Joy Sirott Hurwitz,
Phil Kim,
Julie Lott,
David E. Ornston,
Richard Salvatore
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Robert De Niro as Max Barber -
Morgan Freeman as Reggie Fontaine -
Tommy Lee Jones as Duke Montana -
Zach Braff as Walter Creason -
Emile Hirsch as James Moore -
Kate Katzman as Megan Albert -
Patrick Muldoon as Frank Pierce -
Malcolm Barrett as Xavier Clay -
Eddie Griffin as Devon -
Vincent Spano as Joey Silva -
Blerim Destani as Boris -
Frances Lee McCain as Marge (Old Actress)
A clever and funny satire on Hollywood. People in The Comeback Trail say smart things, make funny jokes at the right times, and give great acts.
As a sleazy Hollywood producer, Robert De Niro does a great job. Tommy Lee Jones, as the fading star who is forced to film the movie, brings his usual cool charm and a surprising amount of vulnerability. Zach Braff is hilarious as De Niro’s dim but nice nephew who ends up being his sidekick, and Morgan Freeman is great as a friendly but cruel mobster who loves movies. They have a great group with interesting personalities that are fun to watch all around. I really think you should watch it.
Movie producer Max Barber (Robert de Niro) and his naïve but starstruck nephew and partner Walter are in dire straits with yet another movie (Killer Nuns?) bombing at the box office. Trouble is, they owe a lot of money to a mobster called Reggie Fontaine (played by Morgan Freeman). Reggie wants his money. Now. While on another set, Max sees a terrible accident in which the leading man is killed by falling off a building during a shoot. No worries, he’s insured. Slowly but surely the seeds of a plot unfold as Max convinces ageing has-been spaghetti Western star Duke Montana (Tommy Lee Jones) to pick up his cowboy hat and star in a new movie. Duke, who was contemplating suicide, having nothing left to live for at an old age facility, agrees. The trouble is, Duke seems to be unkillable. And Reggie wants his money. Now!
The Comeback Trail is a remake of the 1982 film so is set in the era with the same movie making techniques, the same dinosaur attitudes to women – the director is a female – and the same old Western cliches which are evergreen and appealing. Don’t expect an Oscar-worthy film here but do expect a lot of laughs, some nostalgia for how it was way back then, and actually a kind of admiration for how they shot movies and somehow managed to pull together some very watchable stuff. Freeman, De Niro, and Jones have some memorable comic moments and there are screamingly funny scenes which they play deadpan, and heaven knows how they do it. Make popcorn, sit back, and have a very good laugh. I know I shouldn’t but I’m rating this 5 stars for sheer chutzpah!