The Comebacks (2007)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

Tom Brady

Writers (WGA):

Ed Yeager (screenplay) &
Joey Gutierrez (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

Keep your eye on the ball.

Plot:

A comedy that spoofs the inspirational sports movies, The Comebacks tells the story of an out-of-luck coach, Lambeau Fields, who takes a rag-tag bunch of college misfits and drives them towards the football championships. In the process, this life-long loser discovers that he is a winner after all by redeeming himself, saving his relationship with his family and friends, and finding that there is indeed, no "I" in "team"!

Plot Keywords:

Coach | Football | Championship | Failure | Spoof

Cast

David Koechner	...	Lambeau "Coach" Fields
Carl Weathers	...	Freddie Wiseman
Melora Hardin	...	Barb Fields
Matthew Lawrence	...	Lance Truman
Brooke Nevin	...	Michelle Fields
Nick Searcy	...	Mr. Truman
George Back	...	Buddy Boy
Noureen DeWulf	...	Jizminder Featherfoot
Jesse Garcia	...	Jorge Juanson
Jackie Long	...	Trotter
Robert Ri'chard	...	Aseel Tare
Martin Spanjers	...	Randy Randinger
Jermaine Williams	...	IPod
Finesse Mitchell	...	Titans Coach
Will Arnett	...	Mailman
Dax Shepard	...	Sheriff
Bradley Cooper	...	Cowboy
Jon Gries	...	Barber
Andy Dick	...	Toilet Bowl Referee
Eric Christian Olsen	...	Foreign Exchange Student
Frank Caliendo	...	Chip Imitation
Stacy Keibler	...	All-American Mom
Drew Lachey	...	All-American Dad
Jason Sklar	...	Superfan #1
Randy Sklar	...	Superfan #2
Kerri Kenney	...	Sports Judge (as Kerri Kenney-Silver)
Jillian Grace	...	Maria Sharapova Look-Alike
Dennis Rodman	...	Warden
Bill Buckner	...	Himself
Eric Dickerson	...	Himself
Michael Irvin	...	Himself
Chris Rose	...	Himself
John Salley	...	Himself
Lawrence Taylor	...	Himself
Shannon Woodward	...	Emily
Brittany Buckner	...	Kelly
Lindsay Gareth	...	Brittany
Emma Heming	...	Megan
Kai Donovan Brady	...	Young Lance
Adam Apodaca	...	Maddonald
David Blue	...	LaCrosse Partygoer
Kevin Patrick Burke	...	Zidane Look-Alike
Ren Casey	...	Cubs Fan
John W. Clark	...	Venus Williams Look-Alike
Ken Medlock	...	Pitching Coach
Don 'Doc' Milligan	...	Referee #2
Holmes Osborne	...	Man in Suit
Chase Penny	...	Troy
Casey Sander	...	Clint
Jason Widener	...	Vince
Akima Castaneda	...	Jizminder's Father (as Akima 'Rick' Castaneda)
Jim Cody Williams	...	Salamander
Maurice LaMarche	...	Announcer
Jerry Sherman	...	Rookie
Leigh Morgan	...	Reporter
Rodney Saulsberry	...	God (Voice-over) (voice)
Staci B. Flood	...	Trotter Dancer (as Staci Flood)
Aisha Jamila Francis	...	Trotter Dancer (as Aisha Francis)
Melanie Lewis	...	Trotter Dancer
Paige Peterson	...	Trotter Dancer
Stephanie Spanski	...	Trotter Dancer
Bethany Strong	...	Trotter Dancer
Erin Yvonne	...	Trotter Dancer
Lauren Curtis	...	Cheerleader
Joe Jackson	...	Cheerleader
Angela Lee	...	Cheerleader
Alan Linder	...	Cheerleader
Kristine May	...	Cheerleader
Tarah Paige	...	Cheerleader
Tim Passalacqua	...	Cheerleader
David Ranck	...	Cheerleader
Kasey Rodgers	...	Cheerleader
Rudy Rodriguez	...	Cheerleader
Megan Ryan	...	Cheerleader
Monica Soto	...	Cheerleader
Ryan Wiederspahn	...	Cheerleader
Ryan Adams	...	Fantasy Dancer
Bryan Anthony	...	Fantasy Dancer
Marty Dew	...	Fantasy Dancer
John Gregory	...	Fantasy Dancer (as John Havik Gregory)
Clinton Huff	...	Fantasy Dancer
Dondraico Johnson	...	Fantasy Dancer
Jorene Leonard	...	Fantasy Dancer (as Jorene K. Leonard)
Brooke Long	...	Fantasy Dancer
Chris Moss	...	Fantasy Dancer
Sarah Rosete	...	Fantasy Dancer
Jenna Stewart	...	Fantasy Dancer
Shaun T.	...	Fantasy Dancer
Daniel Abikasis	...	Football Player
Kenny Bell	...	Football Player
Jeffrey Brand	...	Football Player
Sunny Byrd	...	Football Player
Shawn Dickie	...	Football Player
Matt Douglass	...	Football Player
Chad Mehle	...	Football Player
Brad M. Sorenson	...	Football Player (as Brad Sorenson)
Michael Spencer	...	Football Player
Russell Thomas	...	Football Player
Maurice Trautman	...	Football Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Abernathy	...	Football Fan (uncredited)
Akima	...	Chief Featherfoot (uncredited)
Tony Alameda	...	Tattooed Convict (uncredited)
Trevont Armond	...	Titan Fan (uncredited)
David Black	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
Dre Bowie	...	Titan Football Player (uncredited)
Alex E. Burns	...	The Limousine Driver (uncredited)
Monica Cabral	...	Soccer Girl (uncredited)
D.T. Carney	...	Team Unbeatable (uncredited)
Allie Cohen	...	Titan Cheerleader (uncredited)
Michael Coleman	...	(uncredited)
Lewis Dauber	...	(uncredited)
Ryan O'Neil DeSouza	...	Cuban Refugee (uncredited)
Rico Devereaux	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Donovan	...	Soccer Goalie (uncredited)
Paul Edney	...	Football Fan (uncredited)
Manrico Erasmi	...	Marco Materazzi (uncredited)
Aidan Gonzales	...	Baby Lance (uncredited)
Andrew Gonzales	...	Baby Lance (uncredited)
Derek Graf	...	Turbo (uncredited)
Minnie Gupta	...	Hot Tub girl (uncredited)
Trae Ireland	...	Minnesota Viking Player (uncredited)
Lu Johnson	...	Chet, Down Marker Ref (uncredited)
Matt Leonard	...	Scary Lineman (uncredited)
Chauntal Lewis	...	Freddy's Girl (uncredited)
Debra Ling	...	Hottie (uncredited)
Debra Milano	...	Pregnant Woman (uncredited)
Jerrod Montgomery	...	Cubs Center Fielder (uncredited)
Brad Newman	...	(uncredited)
Bruce Nicholson	...	Armed Guard #1 (uncredited)
Armon Nowparvar	...	Camp Kid (uncredited)
Carly Jordan Pancher	...	7 yr old Michelle (uncredited)
Jean-Michel Richaud	...	Scary Lineman (voice) (uncredited)
Retson Ross	...	Flashback Football Boy (uncredited)
Jeff Sanders	...	Player #1 in Shower (uncredited)
Marty Eli Schwartz	...	Taser Cop (uncredited)
Marquita Scott	...	Titan Cheerleader (uncredited)
Robb Skyler	...	Marv Albert (uncredited)
Arne Starr	...	Football Fan (uncredited)
Nick Stavrianoudakis	...	Toilet Bowl Fan (uncredited)
Jennifer Terban	...	Girl in Crowd (uncredited)
Joshua Gates Weisberg	...	Toilet Bowl Fan (uncredited)
Tony Wilde	...	Autistic Kid (uncredited)

Directed by
Tom Brady

Writing credits (WGA)
Ed Yeager		(screenplay) &
Joey Gutierrez		(screenplay)
John Aboud		(story) &
Michael Colton		(story) and
Adam Jay Epstein		(story) &
Andrew Jacobson		(story)

Produced by
Peter Abrams	....	producer
Adam F. Goldberg	....	executive producer
Laura Greenlee	....	co-producer
Jeffrey Harlacker	....	associate producer
Robert L. Levy	....	producer
Andrew Panay	....	producer
Kevin Sabbe	....	co-producer
Michael Schreiber	....	co-producer (as Mike Schreiber)

Original Music by
Christopher Lennertz

Cinematography by
Anthony B. Richmond

Film Editing by
Alan Edward Bell

Casting by
Barbara Fiorentino
Rebecca Mangieri
Wendy Weidman

Production Design by
Marc Fisichella

Art Direction by
Douglas Cumming

Costume Design by
Salvador Pérez Jr.

Makeup Department
Rebecca Alling	....	makeup artist
Patricia Budz	....	assistant hair stylist (as Patty Budz)
Tarra D. Day	....	makeup department head (as Tarra Day)
RaMona Fleetwood	....	hair department head
Ketty Gonzalez	....	hair stylist
Rob Hinderstein	....	prosthetic effects supervisor
Desne J. Holland	....	makeup artist (as Desne Holland)
Lori Sanders	....	hair stylist
Leah Vautrot	....	makeup artist: second unit
David Williams	....	makeup artist: second unit
Debbie Zoller	....	makeup artist: second unit

Production Management
Mark Hansson	....	unit production manager: additional photography
Marty Eli Schwartz	....	unit production manager
John G. Scotti	....	unit production manager: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Karen Miller Ehrlich	....	assistant director: additional photography
Karen Miller Ehrlich	....	second second assistant director
Timothy Grant Engle	....	second assistant director: additional photography
Allan Graf	....	second unit director
Mark Hansson	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Leah King	....	second second assistant director
Conte Matal	....	first assistant director
Jayson Merrill	....	second assistant director: second unit
Marc Newland	....	additional second assistant director
Jenny Nolan	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Marty Eli Schwartz	....	first assistant director
John G. Scotti	....	first assistant director: second unit
Ken Twohy	....	crowds assistant director

Art Department
Alysia Allen	....	art department coordinator
Liza Cucco	....	art department assistant
Matthew D. Egan	....	propmaker gangboss
Wendy Jerde	....	scenic painter gang boss
Duff Miller	....	assistant property master
Tom Miller	....	assistant property master
Lars Petersen	....	construction coordinator
Eric Reichardt	....	lead scenic
Robin Richesson	....	storyboard artist
Sharon Speller	....	decorator painter
Steven C. Voll	....	general foreman
Thomas 'Noe' Welch	....	swing gang
John Youngblood	....	on-set dresser

Sound Department
Mark Agostino	....	ProTools playback operator
Walter Anderson	....	sound mixer
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Derek Casari	....	adr engineer
Smokey Cloud	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Haight	....	dialogue editor
R.J. Kizer	....	dialogue editor
Andy Koyama	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Mercado	....	sound mixer: second unit
John Morris	....	supervising sound editor
Michael A. Patillo	....	sound utility
Andrea Piedimonte	....	adr mixer
Brian Robinson	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Ozzy Alvarez	....	fabricator
Thomas D. Bacho Jr.	....	mechanical engineer
Christian Beckman	....	makeup effects producer: Quantum Creation FX
Alex E. Burns	....	special effects driver
Robert Kato DeStefan	....	fabricator
Jason Dodd	....	special effects crew
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects coordinator
Danielle Noe	....	special makeup effects: Quantum Creation FX
Justin Raleigh	....	project coordinator: Quantum Creation FX
Mike Thompson	....	special effects crew
Gary D. Bierend	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
Mark Rappaport	....	animatronic effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Spencer Armajo	....	digital compositor
Gary M. Davis	....	digital compositor
Saeed Faridzadeh	....	digital compositor
Jim Gorman	....	digital compositor
Todd Groves	....	digital compositor
Bonnie Kanner	....	visual effects executive producer: Pixel Magic
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor
Reid Paul	....	senior digital effects supervisor
Reid Paul	....	visual effects producer
Lee Roderick	....	visual effects supervisor
Juan Carlos Vargas	....	digital effects artist (as Juan Vargas)
Jennifer Vecchiarello	....	visual effects producer
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)

Stunts
John Ashker	....	stunts
Dean Baldwin	....	stunt double
Noah Ballou	....	stunt double
Kevin Cassidy	....	stunt performer
Kevin Cassidy	....	utility stunts
Mark Chadwick	....	stunt double
Jayson Dumenigo	....	stunt double
Brennan Dyson	....	stunt performer
Jonathon Ford	....	stunt double
Jonathon Ford	....	stunts
Allan Graf	....	stunt coordinator
Derek Graf	....	stunts
Sean Graham	....	stunt driver
Steve Kelso	....	stunt driver
Brandon Larcom	....	stunt double: Martin Spanjers
Michael Li	....	stunt rigger
Shaun W. Loeser	....	stunt double: Martin Spanjers
Deborah L. Mazor	....	stunt double: Melora Hardin
Jim McConnell	....	stunts
Bonnie Morgan	....	stunt performer
Kevin Reid	....	stunt double: Matthew Lawrence
Chad L. Stevens	....	stunts
Larnell Stovall	....	stunt double: Jermaine Williams
Jay Torrez	....	stunt double: Jesse Garcia
Tyler Vogt	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Todd Avery	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Tony Bendt	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Kirk Bloom	....	second assistant camera
Ryan Bradley	....	grip
Glenn Brown	....	assistant camera
Chris Cuevas	....	assistant camera
Will Dearborn	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Mike DeGrazzio	....	digital imaging technician
Ryan DeGrazzio	....	camera utility
Matt Floyd	....	key rigging grip
Steve Galvin	....	first assistant electrician
Jeff Gatesman	....	lighting console programmer
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator
Bob Gorelick	....	camera operator: "a" camera
David Henri	....	video assist
Chip Ingram	....	grip
Michael Kelem	....	aerial camera operator
Brian Kronenberg	....	grip
Philip Lee	....	camera operator: second unit
Scott W. Leftridge	....	key grip
Michael Listorti	....	dolly grip
Anthony T. Marra II	....	key grip: second unit
Isaac McKee	....	lighting technician
Mike Moyer	....	gaffer
Tony Olivieri	....	first assistant camera
Kelly Price	....	grip
Jonathan 'Chunky' Richmond	....	camera operator
Chad Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Bob Scott	....	director of photography: second unit (as Bob M. Scott)
Brian Spitz	....	videographer
Robert Sterry	....	video assist operator: second unit
Michael Ursetta	....	rigging electrician
Douglas Wiltse	....	dolly grip: "b" camera

Casting Department
Allison Bader	....	casting intern
Jessie Disla	....	casting associate
Amber Horn	....	casting associate
Jeff Olan	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kevin Ian Ackerman	....	additional costumer
Gala Autumn	....	costume supervisor
Antonitta Barnes	....	set costumer
Artemio Carpio	....	costumer
Paul Corricelli	....	set costumer
Molly Grundman	....	assistant costume designer
Terri Middleton	....	costumer
Roric Ruegsegger	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Rod Dean	....	associate editor
Beth Dewey	....	digital intermediate producer
Michael Hatzer	....	supervising digital colorist: Efilm
Donald Likovich	....	assistant editor
Jami Philbrick	....	post-production assistant
Michael Rostker	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Buck Damon	....	music supervisor
Matt Fausak	....	music editor
Kevin Globerman	....	digital score recordist
Steve Juliani	....	music preparation
Andrew Kinney	....	orchestrator
David Low	....	orchestra contractor
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Brandon Roberts	....	orchestrator
Bart Samolis	....	musician
Jeff Vaughn	....	scoring mixer
Philip White	....	assistant to composer

Transportation Department
Darrell Dubovsky	....	driver
Royale Edward	....	driver
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Kirk Huston	....	driver captain
Zoa Keith	....	transportation dispatcher
Knut Kielpinski	....	driver
'Wild Bill' Laczko	....	transportation
Rick Lovoy	....	driver
Anthony J. Mignano	....	driver
Douglas Price	....	driver
Tony Ruiz	....	driver
Chris Stephens	....	transportation

Other crew
Julie M. Anderson	....	production supervisor
Michael Beatrice	....	assistant accountant
Ted Boehm	....	assistant: Peter Abrams and Andrew Panay
Luis Bonachea	....	production assistant
Ben Brenner	....	assistant: Peter Abrams and Andrew Panay
Tracy Browne	....	second assistant accountant
Robert D. Brugger	....	set medic
Kerry Carter	....	production assistant: second unit
Dante	....	warm-up comic
Paulette Dauber	....	unit publicist
Ron J. DeGuzman	....	production assistant
Jon Dorflinger	....	assistant: Tom Brady
Diane Durant	....	script supervisor
Jeff Einhorn	....	photo double: Randy Sklar
Manrico Erasmi	....	set production assistant
Lily Garcia	....	set production assistant
Wendy Geary	....	set production assistant
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator
Tony Gonzalez	....	choreographer
Allan Graf	....	football coordinator
Derek Graf	....	assistant football coordinator
Nicole Graf	....	football operations coordinator
Russ Herpich	....	puppeteer
Jennifer Klatt	....	first assistant accountant
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer
Jessica Linick	....	production assistant
Steve Martin	....	rigging medic
Chad Mazero	....	production assistant
Jeremy Meyer	....	assistant location manager
Ralph B. Meyer	....	key location manager
Aina O'Kane	....	puppeteer
Scooter Perrotta	....	set production assistant
Sharina Radia	....	crowd production assistant
Mark Rappaport	....	puppeteer
Will Sandoval	....	production assistant
Todd SanSone	....	wireless imaging technician: aerial unit
Noah Suchoff	....	set production assistant
Jim Swidarski	....	payroll accountant
Bernadette Tanchauco	....	production accountant
Stephanie Tull	....	additional set production assistant
Mish Twombly	....	assistant production coordinator

Production Companies

• Fox Atomic
• Tapestry Films

Distributors

• Fox Atomic (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Conceptual Design and Development (special make-up effects)
• Handmade Digital (digital opticals and visual effects)
• Quantum Creation FX (special make-up effects and prosthetics) (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Chef Robért Catering  catering
• Designer Wardrobe Trailers  wardrobe trailer
• EFilm  digital intermediate services
• Scarlet Letters  title design
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Sportsrobe  costumes

Also Known As:

Sports Movie (UK) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for crude and sexual content throughout and some drug material

Runtime:

USA:84 min | Germany:88 min | 107 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | New Zealand:R13 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

California State University - 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, California, USA

Company:

Fox Atomic

Trivia:

Not screened for critics.

Quotes:

Trotter: [Buddy Boy is blocking Trottter's locker] Out of my way, fat ass. You finally decide to block something and it's my locker?
Buddy Boy: I was just gonna drop off an invitation to my birthday party. FYI, there's going to be a petting zoo.
[whimpers]
Lance Truman: Nice. Score one for Trotter, which is one more than he had yesterday.
[throws ball at Trotter, who catches it as team oooohhhs]
Trotter: Look, man, why don't you pretend this thing is a football, and just drop it?
[team ooohhhs louder]
Lance Truman: Why don't you act like a barbell and get benched?
[team cheers]
Trotter: Why don't you pretend this whole thing is a basket full of groceries and get sacked?
[...]

Movie Connections:

References "My Little Pony and Friends" (1986)

Soundtrack:

Back Move

Not great, but not horrible

It is hard to really rate movies like this. It is obviously not going to be anything classic. It is probably going to be pretty much forgettable. So what if any redeeming qualities might this have? Why waste your time? Well all I can say is that, it is what it is! There are many amusing moments, there are a couple funny moments. It is a mildly amusing comedy that hits the obvious laughs. And in that it is a decent movie. It makes fun of every sports movie it can think of, and most of the jokes are average at best. But on a few occasions there are some very funny prop comedy moments.

The actors all do a reasonable job with what they have to work with. The obvious jokes don't ask them to be exceptional. It just asked them to deliver the lines and try not to laugh at how ridiculous the lines are. And they all do a good job of being ridiculous, right in step with the movie.

It is a fun movie that does not take itself serious at all. No it is not "Airplane" or "Dumb&Dumber" type of classic flick. But if you compare it to something like "Not another teen movie" or any of the newer super-spoofs it holds its own. It is certainly better than "Meet the Spartans" or "Epic Movie" spoofs.

I thought Brooke Nevin was fun to watch. She is beautiful to start with, but beyond that she is very good. She delivers with a subtle but memorable performance. I'd like to see her more in the future I think she has a quality that comes through on screen. The rest of the cast is solid, and Mr. Lawrence is pretty good. He's a much better actor than his older brother if that is really saying much. And the always fetching Melora Hardin does her thing as she always does, this time as Coach Fields' wife. She is such an underrated talent.

The movies is filled with cameos from recognizable faces from both sports and movies. Just about every cameo can be traced back to someone with a much bigger resume than the role. It's fun stuff.

All in all, if you are looking for intelligent entertainment you won't enjoy this. But if you are willing to leave your mind at the door and just enjoy the stupidity, the movies has a lot of fun stuff going on to keep you interested for 90 minutes or so.