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The Comeback Trail (2020 film)

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The Comeback Trail
Theatrical release poster with original release date
Directed byGeorge Gallo
Screenplay by
  • George Gallo
  • Josh Posner
Based onThe Comeback Trail
by Harry Hurwitz
Produced by
  • Philip Kim
  • Patrick Hibler
  • Joy Sirott Hurwitz
  • Julie Lott Gallo
  • Richard Salvatore
  • David E. Ornston
Starring
CinematographyLukasz Bielan
Edited byJohn M. Vitale
Music byAldo Shllaku
Production
companies
  • Storyboard Media
  • March On Productions
  • Alla Prima
  • Rapid Farms Productions
  • Ingenious Media
Distributed byCloudburst Entertainment
Release date
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.4 million[1]

The Comeback Trail is a 2020 American crime comedy film directed by George Gallo and written by Gallo and Josh Posner, based on the 1982 film of the same name by Harry Hurwitz. It stars Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Morgan Freeman, Zach Braff, Emile Hirsch, Eddie Griffin, Kate Katzman, and Blerim Destani.

The film premiered at the 2020 Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival.

Plot

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After his latest movie tanks at the box office, producer Max Barber is in deep debt to mobster Reggie Fontaine. Rival producer James Moore offers to settle his debt, even offering $1 million for a script to a movie called “Paradise“, which Max owns the rights to. Max reluctantly agrees, but changes his mind when he by chance witnesses the death of movie star Frank Pierce, after which Moore receives $5 million insurance money.

Realizing he can pay of his debt and do Paradise, Max decides to create a new movie just to kill off his lead and collect the money. Stumbling upon suicidal Western Star Duke Montana in a nursing home, Max and his nephew Walter Creason convince him to star in their next project. However, Max‘s initial plan to set Duke on fire at the first day of shooting fails.

Max‘s subsequent attempts at Duke‘s life by collapsing a bridge and having him attacked by a bull also fail. Upon seeing raw footage, Max realizes that they are actually shooting a good movie, however; he is knocked out by his latest scheme to kill Duke. When he wakes up, Walter chastises him, having figured out he has tried to kill Duke all along. When Max reveals that he has not used his own money but borrowed another $1 million from Reggie, both realize they have to stop him from killing Duke himself.

Reggie and his thugs promptly arrive during a shootout scene and attempt to kill Duke. Max pleads with Reggie, who decides to let them finish the movie after Walter shows them the raw footage. However, Duke finds out the truth and briefly returns to being suicidal, nevertheless; he finishes the movie, which is released to great success.

Cast

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Production

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Congressmember Deb Haaland, shown here with Robert De Niro, visited the film set in 2019.

The project was announced in May 2019, with Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman cast in the film, written and directed by George Gallo.[2] Zach Braff and Eddie Griffin were added later that month.[3][4] Emile Hirsch joined the next month.[5]

Filming began in early June 2019 and continued to July throughout New Mexico.[6]

Release

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The Comeback Trail premiered at the 17th Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival on October 9, 2020.[7] It was initially scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 13, 2020,[8] but was delayed to July 23, 2021,[9] again to November 18, 2022, and then pulled from the schedule again. The film is currently unreleased in the U.S.

On June 19, 2021, the film was released through Sky Cinema on the Sky TV and Now TV platforms in the United Kingdom.[10][11]

Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 30% based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "The Comeback Trail (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Ritman, Alex (May 19, 2019). "Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Morgan Freeman to Hit George Gallo's 'Comeback Trail'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  3. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (May 14, 2019). "Zach Braff Joins Robert De Niro Pic 'The Comeback Trail' — Cannes". Deadline. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  4. ^ White, James (May 14, 2019). "Zach Braff Added To Comedy Remake The Comeback Trail". Empire. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Galuppo, Mia (June 21, 2020). "Emile Hirsch Joins Robert De Niro in Comedy 'The Comeback Trail'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  6. ^ Torrez, Marco (May 28, 2019). "Oscar trio star in new film set to shoot in New Mexico". Albuquerque Business First. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  7. ^ Lafuente de Lavotha, Celina (October 6, 2020). "Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival 2020 – The Show must go on!". Monaco Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 26, 2020). "Cloudburst Entertainment Hits 'The Comeback Trail' Starring Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones & Morgan Freeman". Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Leiber, Sarah Jae (9 June 2021). "THE COMEBACK TRAIL, Starring Robert De Niro, Opens in Theaters July 23". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  10. ^ Draper, Joe (2021-06-19). "Watch Robert De Niro and Scrubs star Zach Braff's new film FREE". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  11. ^ "Sky Cinema and NOW: Everything new in June 2021". uk.movies.yahoo.com. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  12. ^ "The Comeback Trail". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
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