Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Former jock gets second chance in uplifting sports drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Touchback
What's the Story?
Scoring the winning touchdown in the high school championship game was the highlight of Scott Murphy's (Brian Presley) life, but a debilitating injury on the play ended his athletic career. Fifteen years later, the bank is foreclosing on his farm, and he thinks he's got nothing to live for. His life insurance policy may be the only way he can take care of his family -- or so he thinks -- but there's only one way for them to cash that in. But what if there was another way, a way to get a second chance at everything?
Is It Any Good?
This predictable movie looks like a sports drama that leads up to the big game, but there's much more at stake than just bragging rights. Scott isn't only playing to win, but rather to determine what's important to him and how he wants his life to turn out. Really, this uplifting film is more of a second-chance story about a man who gets to redo the most important moments of his life and make some significant changes. Will he revise history?
It's not that hard to figure out how things will end up. Like many small-town athletic dramas, you can usually figure out what's going to happen in Touchback as the clock ticks down. And like characters in other heartwarming stories about discovering what's really important, Scott doesn't make any truly surprising choices. Still, it's entertaining to see how he arrives at his decision, and Presley is charismatic as both a high school star and a slightly gone-to-seed middle-aged version of himself. Kurt Russell also delivers as the coach, a role he's played just as well in other films.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Scott's choices. Given the chance to change his life, why do you think he makes the decisions he makes? Would you have done anything differently?
How does Touchback compare to other sports movies? Did you find it surprising or predictable? What do sports movies tend to have in common?
Do you think Scott is a good role model?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 13, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : September 4, 2012
- Cast : Brian Presley , Christine Lahti , Kurt Russell
- Director : Don Handfield
- Studio : Anchor Bay Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some mature thematic elements
- Last updated : February 5, 2026
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