Genres

Visitors Review

Kris 2012-05-23 17:38:16

where the heck am I?

This movie was aweful. I can honestly say that my friends and I didn't even stay 'til the end. The movie tries very little, if at all, to incorporate a plot of any sort. I know that it is about the team, but the story pulls so far from the central idea that it is just stupid. And crude humor described in the summary is an understatement. I have seen the movies that have a purpose in their use of such, but this was just randomly dropped; and yes I got all of it, it was still just completely disconnected from the entire storyline. I would not recommend this film to my worst enemy. The acting, apart from the lead, was horrible and inexperienced, even for the few serious roles that were created lacked depth or believability. I saw the lead actor on Jay Leno last night, and pushed my friends to come with me tonight, let me tell you, bad move. Save your money and your valuable time. I leaned to one friend this evening and simply said, "where am I?"

2012-05-23 05:12:07

Below Average Punt

A spoof movie, another product of current stupefying lampoons for a sub-genre heading into the wrong direction. A spoof is usually defined as a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way. Therefore, if such composition has no humor to deliver, then the very point of the movie has been self-defeated. The problem: slapstick. It seems as though whenever a parody is made, somebody has to get hit by something. Hear are the highlights of "The Comebacks": a football player getting ran over by a bus, and then gets crippled by a cashew, a mentally-challenged inspiration trips from his shopping cart and dry-humps the teacher (isn't "Radio" a parody in itself?), a 90-year-old Balboa-ish character got punched and turned into dust, and the running gag of people getting pummeled by opposing football players even when they're not on the field; heck, the movie even went to absurd extremes like in the "Dodgeball" parody when the coach shoots a nerd in the chest with a handgun...yet the nerd survives. Can I get a parody that's actually clever and witty without someone getting hurt? Fair enough, the movie did tried some verbal pizazz, though they're either people jokingly explaining the premise of the movie it's parodying ("Invincible") or make easy ironic suggestions, such as the coach telling his team to fail at academics. Sometimes, the movie just got silly, like a gymnast who balanced a board with her tongue or a rival football player showing his My Little Pony locker. The jokes are recycled (oh, like the "Lucas" parody hasn't been done before), and what's worse, some of them are throw-aways. Many of its parodies (like the mentioned "Rocky Balboa" parody) exist for for a few seconds and have no impact, cohesion, or comprehension to the plot, like a post-cancellation episode of "Family Guy" and just as humorless. But thankfully "The Comebacks" is JUST about physical comedy, it didn't try to cringe me with toilet-related business. As far as spoofs go, this movie does followed closely to the genre it's making fun of...unlike films by a certain directing duo. Outside that one bizarre scene where the cast is singing and goofing around to a Journey song (at least it's not a "Sopranos" reference), there's no jokes about a popular heiress or an unrelated movie, just jokes revolving around sports films. It does have one clever parody, and it's a Friday Night Lights spoof ; the humor itself isn't good, but the scene was shot in documentary style like that movie, which I thought was a nice touch. I admit to giggling a few scenes like the "Die Sad" speech regarding a terminally-ill kid's wish, and Carl Weathers is a living saving grace; out of all the deliberate stereotypes and dumb characters, he's the only character I actually underestimated. See, in the plot, he helped his best friend Fields (David Koechner) coach a usual brand of unusual football players, even though Fields is the most incompetent coach in football history; once the movie explained about Weathers's goal, it actually makes sense. Here's what I don't understand: how is it that great parodies like "Airplane" and "The Naked Gun" do so well using the same comedy elements that didn't work for this film? Is it because of the times, or maybe because they had old people in it? Or maybe these movies simply follow one parody and go nuts with it? The latter is probably the right call, since this movie tries to machine-gun many parodies, and ended up missing almost every one.

joels 2012-05-23 06:47:26

Bad Slapstick

You dont spoof a movie (Dodgeball) that is already a comedy, that is the number one rule to spoofing; all these movies coming out lately like Date movie, Epic movie ect. ect. need to get back to the roots of slapstick and start spoofing serious things, like the good old days where movie like Hot Shots and Naked Gun flurished.This movie made me laugh on occasion but the sheer idiocy of the greater parts took me out of it, another rule: you should not be aware you are watching a movie while watching a movie.

safinahmed 2012-05-22 09:22:10

Not all bad

This movie is a nonsense/spoof comedy, in the lines of The Airplane orNaked Gun, but it doesn't even come close to this two, because it lacksoriginality and a little more intelligent jokes, rather then justthrowing you with the same old easy jokes.You can figure out some references to other movies, from the top of myhead I identified Dodgeball and Rocky, so you can have some fun withthat, trying to find out what movies are spoofed.The movie also offers you an occasional laugh, but nothing that cancause you injuries, thus nothing really funny.I liked the character IPod in some ways (even though some of the jokeswith him are standard comedy 101).I think this movie (and like most of nonsense/spoof comedy) depends onthe mood you are in, so if you think you will laugh to any joke watchthis movie. If you are in a serious mood forget about this (re)watchThe Airplane instead, it will definitely make you laugh

2012-05-21 11:42:33

COMEBACKS? COME ON!

Spoofs of films have been around for some time. They began to make headway with the genre takes on films by Mel Brooks. Then in 1980 it all changed when the film AIRPLANE hit the screens. After that send ups of specific films and the like became a staple out of Hollywood. It seems now that the trend, though not dead, is suffering its last gasps. THE COMBACKS is a spoof of the sports films seen in the last decade or so. Coach Limbeau Fields (David Koechner) is the losingest coach of all time no matter what the sport. When an old friend lets him know about a college football team in need of a new coach, he decides to give it one last try.Of course the team is a bunch of malcontents and hopeless ball handlers, with one gifted player who tragedy is certain to strike. Every movie from RADIO to FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS to REMEMBER THE TITANS finds a home in this flick, but not a very funny one. The jokes are lame at best and vulgar at worst. It seems that when a joke can't be found in a parody these days the answer is to resort to the rudest thing possible. By the films end we discover that the coach's friend (played by Carl Weathers) wasn't a friend at all but using the coach to lead a possible contender against his team down the wrong path. A rallying cry from the team and the coach leads this motley crew to the finals. But will the win? Who cares!For me a comedy is a film that makes me laugh out loud more than once. I found one thing that made me do so during the 107 minutes that this film ran and that was a pretty weak laugh at that. Koechner can be hilarious and has the potential to do great comedy, but not if he continues to settle for films like this. For a better example of a good job he's done, watch RUN RONNIE RUN. The previews for this movie made me want to see it. But, as is often the case these days, the previews showed the best parts. And they were shown often enough that once I got to see the movie they were no longer funny. If you're looking for a good movie to rent this week pass this one by. Look for something else new on the shelf. Or better yet, look for either AIRPLANE or YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Had the writers of this dreck done so, they might have thought before putting pen to paper.

ahmed elshikh 2012-05-20 13:54:38

Well, The Best Not-Screened-For-Critics Movie Then !

It got many merits. On the top of them is the writing. They did so manyfunny details to an extent tells you that they took so much time ofhard working. Choosing the formula of underachievers-go-achievers isyes corny, but at least it was well served with droll characters, clearstory lines and fair endings. And it's a rare time for a comedy toparody while keeping a "story" going on vivaciously as well, since most– let's be realistic and say all – the parodies lately got no story, orlaughs either ! I loved many ironies, many situations, and some lines.Generally the performances were as good as the written material. Andthe directing managed to make catchy image and breathless pace. It'swonderful how this movie achieves its goods together as a comedy,parody, and – somehow – a movie about underachievers.The shortcomings aren't a lot. Their most dangerous one is – ironically– the lead actor (David Koechner). That guy can be fun and bearable fora supporting roles, such as the one he did nicely in (Anchorman TheLegend of Ron Burgundy – 2004). But he can't be watched for more time,as for a whole movie ! He's not that charismatic I guess, and sometimehe's too annoying for his own good. (Brooke Nevin), as his daughter,was absolute silly, and no sexy, being a classic example formiscasting. The matter of the lead being a fugitive wasn't solved orutilized till the very end, most probably it was forgotten. And therude sexual humor was just too much in a boring unfunny way; as ifcomedy is about nothing but sex. The gay remarks, the double meaninglines, and the members' jokes were endless, going on and on loosely,untidily, and crowdedly.It's watchable, enjoyable, and a bit gross. It succeeds on some levels,having a large amount of laughs. Definitely it has a sense ofsmartness; which's something happens accidentally nowadays. Tounderstand why connect between the next : most of the disastrousparodies lately weren't screened for critics; so, if the producers sawit coming; how they green-lighted it in the first place ?! And knowingthat (The Comebacks) wasn't too, then you must admit that thoseproducers are the main reason of idiocy in today's Hollywood !

2012-05-14 08:40:38

Worth A Chuckle (Or Two)

THE COMEBACKS is one of the dumbest, crudest, foul, uncouth, imbecilic movies I've ever seen (and based on all the films I've seen that's saying something, folks). But. . .who cares?This is a film that allows you to sit back and let ribald David Koechner take you on one wild and zany ride as the hapless, inept football coach Lambeau Fields (football fans will adore that name). Koechner isn't just over the top: He's practically in your grill as he tries to mold his team of dysfunctional malcontents into a competitive college football contender. Along the way we're treated to one sophomoric sight gag after another, and the film repeatedly spoofs several contemporary movies with all the delicacy of a doberman in a meat locker. But again, who cares? THE COMEBACKS is intentionally bad (and dumb), and definitely worth the handful of chuckles it brings. The team's music video spoof to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and Frank Caliendo in the broadcast booth playing both Al Michaels and John Madden are must-see viewing.--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

Marshall Adams 2012-05-13 19:19:06

Funny, very light, but doesn't keep ones attention prolonged

I watched this film today, from start to finish it was nothing butparodies of making fun of over films like Marky Mark's Invincible,Fright Night Lights, Radio, Field of Dreams, & others. It had itsmoments, the coach was my favorite thou. I still can't get enough ofhim from Will Ferrell's "Anchorman". That's where he began his reallaunch of his career as a mainstream actor in film. If you wantsomething funny, good laughs, just don't expect too much. *Has stronggraphic content, not for children* It's an enjoyable parody, not likeScary movie like 1-3, more of "Epic Movie", but not as down-rightdimwitted. It had it's moment, just came up in short supply, very shortsupply to be quite honest. For those who enjoyed Comebacks, then youknow it has it's limits, but it's overall not that terrible, even ifmainstream, well-re-known critics think it's garbage. That's why theyhave us, the People of IMDb, to be our own critic! Enjoy!

2012-05-13 03:32:46

Advice! Watch It When You're High On Meds

Weird thing was, I got two versions of this movie, or at least I think I saw two. The first time I watched this, it cracked me up and I had a great time and loved the movie. Second time, I thought it sucked big time.Only difference was, the first time I watched it, I was loopy on fever medication.So my advice is, watch this when you're loopy on meds and this movie might appear a lot funnier than it really is. This is not a joke as I looked around hours just to find this movie online only to be severely disappointed, thinking I would get a good laugh as the first time I watched it.

worldofjohnboy 2012-05-12 12:59:04

So-So Effort

I walked into the theater expecting to see a spoof about sports films.I walked out with what I had expected, no shock or amazement of howgood it was, nor was I overly disappointed with the film.I am a fan of the Spoof/Slapstick films... my favorites: Naked GunSeries, Top Secret, Scary Movie Series, Not Another Teen Movie. Thismovie falls in somewhere just below these films, but above Epic Movieand Date Movie (I didn't laugh at those movies.) This was a heartyeffort from all of the actors, however, no one really stood out for mein the film. The closet breakout was that part Matthew Lawrence played,though he didn't have many funny parts/lines, he did the most with whathe was given. Another con regarding this film would be that it was tooplotty at times. I can remember a few scenes that not only did I notlaugh at, but seemed to drag on a bit.I did find myself nearly in tears at a few points of the film, mostnotably the "Aseel Tare" (or ACL Tear if you are Coach Lambeau) scenewhere you were anticipating his career-ending injury. I don't know ifit was that funny, really, but it struck a nerve with me and I laughedmy butt off.Overall, I would give this about 5 of 10 stars... it will entertain youfor most of the length of the film and have you laughing in stitches attimes as well.I would not take any children that haven't had the "birds and bees"talk though... I am surprised that it was given PG-13, but I guesstimes have changed. Parents be warned: There are sexual references andsuch that had a couple of kids behind me asking "what is that" or"that's gross" comments.

2012-05-05 07:45:30

cheap

This review is from: The Comebacks (Unrated Edition) (DVD) Spoof movies are becoming too many with few good actors or for that matter good scripts. Some scenes are funny, but the low talent acting hurts the movie.

freakfire-1 2012-05-04 15:34:29

Jason Voorhees should have been the coach.

Sometimes, things should just not be made. And while the set-up seemedgood enough, it proceeds to only make the audience gasp in horror. Butthe problem is, its not another Saw film. Its just so bad you wish youwere receiving punishment from Jason Voorhees.I lost track of how many sports movies and spoofs it incorporated intothe film. And generally, it flopped in its attempts. True, telling histeam they should fail every subject to be true players was somewhatfunny at first, but that grew tiring to watch. That and the joke about"Radio" and "IPod".Overall, I can't stand to watch this film again. Even Trantasia isworth more than this. "D-"

keiichi73 2012-05-03 15:10:46

Another sad spoof

I lay the blame for The Comebacks on anyone who enjoyed Date Movie andEpic Movie. You people encouraged the Fox studio to keep on churningout desperate parody films, and now we're faced with what just may bethe laziest and most desperate one of them all. The Comebacks barelyqualifies as a parody. Heck, it barely qualifies as a movie. This is acomedy in theory, but not in execution. No one, not even the peopleinvolved with this mess, could have possibly fooled themselves intothinking they were making a funny movie. Director Tom Brady (The HotChick) has made something truly wretched here.The plot, if you can even call it that, centers on a man named LambeauFields (David Koechner). Right when I heard his name within the firstcouple seconds of the film, I knew I was in for a long movie. Funnynames are seldom funny, and become even less funny the more you hearthem. Lambeau is one of the worst coaches in the world, but he's beengiven another chance by his best friend, Freddie Wiseman (CarlWeathers), to coach a ragtag high school football team called TheComebacks. Lambeau must not only lead the team to victory, but alsoteach them the ways of inspirational sports movie clichés. He expectshis kids to have poor grades and problems with alcohol, and ridiculesthem when they don't. When it looks like the team has a chance to playat the big championship Toilet Bowl game (Did 10-year-olds write thisscript?), Lambeau is shocked to discover that Freddie is the coach ofthe big rival team that his team will be playing against. Turns outFreddie only encouraged Lambeau to take the coaching job, because hewanted The Comebacks to lose.The Comebacks is a movie so forced and pathetic, I almost had a hardtime believing what I was watching. Spoof movies have recently turnedinto a game of "spot the movie reference", and this continues thetradition. It tries to squeeze in as many references to other sportsmovies as it can, but it either does absolutely nothing with them,expecting us to just point at the screen and laugh out of familiarity,or it attempts to be funny and falls flat on its face. Some of thefilms referenced include Field of Dreams, Bend it Like Beckham, RockyBalboa, Friday Night Lights, Stick It, Radio, Miracle, Remember theTitans, Gridiron Gang, Invincible, and Dodgeball: A True UnderdogStory. But wait, wasn't Dodgeball already a parody of inspirationalsports movies? So, in other words, we're watching a parody of a parodyof inspirational sports movies. If that makes any sense to you, you'rejust the audience this movie is looking for. Some of these films arereferenced in the plot, and some (like the Rocky one) are just thrownin for no reason, because the filmmakers wanted to try to reference asmany films as possible. There are some that the movie even feels theneed to explain to us in its dialogue, just in case we've missed theobvious reference. You know a movie is in trouble when it has to spellout its own jokes to us.The worst thing is that the screenplay by TV veterans and first timescreen writers, Ed Yeager and Joey Gutierrez, doesn't even know thefirst and most important rule of parody - You have to play it straight.The actors have to pretend they're not in on the joke. The reason whythe classic Zucker Brothers movies like Airplane, Top Secret, and TheNaked Gun are remembered so fondly is because they cast serious actorslike Leslie Nielsen (yes, he was a serious actor before he turned tocomedy) and Robert Stack, and then threw them into ridiculoussituations. What made it funny is that they acted like they weren't ina comedy, and kept a stone face to the weirdness around them. Thosefilms wouldn't have worked if they played their roles broadly. TheComebacks proves this, as all the actors are forced to play their rolesso goofy, it's like they're screaming at us to laugh. David Koechnerkeeps on flailing his arms, bulging his eyes, and screaming at the topof his lungs to the point he looks like someone who knows he's trappedin a dead-end comedy, and just tries too hard to pretend he's having agood time. The movie also doesn't understand the art of celebritycameos (also an important factor when it comes to parody films). Whatkind of cameos do we get in The Comebacks? Andy Dick and Dennis Rodman.By the time the movie throws in an out of nowhere and extremelypointless cast musical number to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" forabsolutely no reason whatsoever, I was just about ready to walk out thetheater door. I was the only person at my screening, and the thought ofthis movie going on its pathetic way to a completely empty house kindof appealed to me. I did sit through the rest of The Comebacks, and Iwas not rewarded for my efforts. The sad thing is, Fox is not yet donekilling the spoof genre. They have a parody of 300 coming out next yearcalled Meet the Spartans. I'd say it can't be much worse than this, butI've seen the trailer, and I wouldn't want to get your hopes up.

Dylan Padula 2012-05-02 23:27:09

Funny can't triumph over stupid

Like my headline says, Comebacks was a funny movie. Everything wasperfect from a funny persons perspective.It was usually crude humor,using a sex reference for almost everything and anything. If you haveseen Epic Movie, you know what I am talking about. Still, you caneasily be entertained by this movie. There are no big screen actors,but i also wouldn't think anyone making box office classics to do aparody movie. Its basically just a mash of all your favorite sportsmovies put together, but stupid and funny. This movie is basicallyaimed at teens and younger adults, because quite frankly I think theyare the only ones who would find the humor even funny. If you arelooking for a good laugh, The Comebacks is the movie for you.

rickster_1969 2012-05-02 03:34:21

Waste of film

If it would of had Jack Black listed as the leading actor I would ofstayed away from this movie right away. It actually makes some of hismovies look good compared to this movie.This movie should of beenfilmed as a cartoon for ages 3-8 and it would of been a lot better. Itis nothing but a bunch of the stupidest skits from other movies puttogether to make one big mess.The movie looks like it was shot in aboutone day with no thought at all behind it. There's a few times where itlooks like maybe there's gonna be a turning point and the movie wellactually have plot to the movie or at least a storyline would developbut the stupid skits inserted just ruin the whole movie.

Enchorde 2012-05-01 16:03:33

Silly, but funny

Recap: Coach Fields is the worst coach in history, having lost in allsports imaginable. Now, through a friend, he gets a final opportunitywith a small college football team, The Comebacks. A truly miserableteam, can they come around with their new miserable coach? Comments: A movie spoofing as many sport movies and sports or sportrelated events as it possibly can. So, many, if not all, jokes arecheap and sometimes embarrassingly low. But that doesn't mean that theyaren't funny. Or that it should be looked down upon by default. Towrite a good parody is actually quite difficult and often needs thestory to balance on a thin edge.The Comebacks is by far not the best parody movie, but is wassurprisingly good, and in my opinion much better than the currentrating of 3.6. Sure, the movie fell of that thin ledge at times, mostlyto too low and cheap jokes or points just made on sex. But mostly itwas just wacky, crazy jokes on other movies. To fully appreciate thatyou need to have seen most of that movies, you need an open mind andthe right mind set. It is silly, but silly doesn't need to mean bad ifyou haven't decided that it is beforehand.I enjoyed it. Sure, I'm sick home from work and quite bored, but forthose times movies like The Comebacks are perfect. It is not for a dateor maybe even not for an evening with friends. This is a movie when youtired and need to kill some time. That it does splendidly.6/10

Scott 2012-04-29 17:03:00

So bad I don't need a title!!!

The comebacks is a comedy that spoofs a comedy. I felt when I was watching this I got shot and went to hell. When I was down there I had to watch the worst movie of all time. The movie was the comebacks. After an hour and a half of being tied up and held hostage I made it up to heaven. I wrote this review to warn you how bad the movie was and how good it felt to leave the theater. PLEASE DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE!!! PLEASE!!!!!!

Jamie Mack 2012-04-29 06:39:14

The Worst Film I've Seen in a Decade

We arrived at the theater too late to see Rendition, which was ourintention, and 'The Comebacks' was the only film that hadn't alreadystarted. I had an inkling of how bad a film it was after reading theshort blurb at the ticket counter. The theater was empty when wearrived and only two other people entered before the film started.The screenwriters and director threw every imaginable sports cliché atthe audience without creating a single laugh, not one during the entiremovie. Think of all the football movies that have been made and themillions of dollars schools and fans spend each year on football andyou realize how ripe it is to be parodied or lampooned. If you addTexas to the mix,you ought to come up with the sports version of'Little Miss Sunshine', not a big yawn.The first film that came to mind as we exited the theater was 'Can'tStop the Music' By comparison, this was 'Can't stop the Music' withoutBruce Jenner, Valerie Perrine, or the Village People.If the film had a single grace note, it was seeing Matthew Lawrencegrown up.

2012-04-27 01:34:41

Worst parody movie ever!

This movie sucks. I do not even consider this movie to be funny. The plot was ridiculously pointless and humorless. There were hardly any sports movie reference. This is just a cheap way of taking in movie. Poor effort on anybody's involvement in making this movie.

onomatopoeia11 2012-04-26 11:55:45

The Comebacks Is Worthless Crap

The Comebacks is a spoof on inspirational sports movies, and let mejust tell you-it is not a good one. Tom Brady (the director) probablyfound it hilarious that referencing sports films (from Gridiron Gang,Invincible and even Miracle! to The Longest Yard and Dodgeball-yesDodgeball!) and tossing in a couple of sex jokes, would be the funniestthing since Airplane! Well, he was wrong. They did such a slipshod job,you'd thought it was written in a week. I have found it that if adirector loves the genre, the movie will be good. Obviously, Brady doesnot love the genre he is spoofing. This movie is a rancid piece ofgarbage not worth viewing, so don't see it!