Parents' Guide to The Comeback Trail

Movie R 2022 104 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

Stefan Pape By Stefan Pape , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Unoriginal, profane comedy has few positive messages.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

THE COMEBACK TRAIL finds Hollywood producer Max Barber (Robert De Niro) in debt to mobster Reggie Fontaine (Morgan Freeman), after the latter invested in yet another failed production. But then Barber has the idea to hire aging actor Duke Montana (Tommy Lee Jones) and "accidentally" kill him during a stunt on set, before claiming the insurance payout. The problem is, Duke Montana doesn't die easily.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

This disappointing crime caper, set in the 1970s, fails in its attempt to satirize Hollywood's film industry, leaving a hackneyed, unoriginal movie that lacks heart and conviction. It comes as little surprise to hear that The Comeback Trail is a remake -- the original being released in 1982 -- as it makes you long for at least a little creativity or something unique about it. George Gallo's production suffers from its indecisiveness. At times it pokes fun at the films that came from that era, such as Westerns. At others, it plays more as an homage. The result is a film that is neither one thing nor the other.

The lead roles belong to some of the most decorated stars in history, such as De Niro, Freeman, and Jones. But unlike the characters, they all feel like they're picking up a pretty straightforward paycheck for their efforts. It seems they're all enjoying themselves, which should definitely be noted. The problem is, the same can't quite be said of the viewer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the strong language used in The Comeback Trail. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

  • Discuss the characters from the movie. Did any of them have any redeeming qualities or character strengths? Have you seen any other movies where the central characters have been difficult to root for?

  • How was drinking and smoking portrayed in the movie? Were there consequences? Why is that important?

  • Talk about the violence in the movie. How did the overall tone of the movie affect the impact of the violence? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • How did the movie depict Hollywood? How do you think things have changed, if at all, since the 1970s?

Movie Details

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