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The Comeback Trail (2020 film)

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The Comeback Trail
Release poster
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
  • March On Productions
  • Alla Prima
  • Bay Point Media
  • Capstone Global
  • Sprockefeller Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
  • October 9, 2020 (2020-10-9) (Monte Carlo)
  • February 25, 2025 (2025-2-25) (United States)
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, and Emile Hirsch.

The film premiered at the 2020 Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival, and was released in theatres and on video on demand in the United States on February 25, 2025, by Cloudburst Entertainment and Decal Releasing.

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 off 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 on 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] and then to November 18, 2022, before being pulled from the schedule entirely.[10] Eventually, the film was released in the U.S. theatrically and on video on demand on February 25, 2025.[11]

The film was first released theatrically in Australia on November 12, 2020.[1][12] On June 19, 2021, it was released through Sky Cinema on the Sky TV and Now TV platforms in the United Kingdom.[13][14]

Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 33% based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b "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 Hollywood. 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". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Leiber, Sarah Jae (June 9, 2021). "THE COMEBACK TRAIL, Starring Robert De Niro, Opens in Theaters July 23". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  10. ^ "Theatrical Release Changes for the Week Ending November 6, 2022". the-numbers.com. Nash Information Services, LLC. November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022. Cloudburst Entertainment announced a new expected release for The Comeback Trail (Wide), it was announced as "During 2023". Previously this movie was announced as "During 2022".
  11. ^ Leydon, Joe (March 5, 2025). "'The Comeback Trail' Review: Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman Have the Time of Their Lives in a Showbiz Sabotage Comedy". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  12. ^ "Movie of the Month: The Comeback Trail". FilmInk. November 4, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  13. ^ Draper, Joe (June 19, 2021). "Watch Robert De Niro and Scrubs star Zach Braff's new film FREE". Digital Spy. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Sky Cinema and NOW: Everything new in June 2021". Yahoo! Movies UK. May 28, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "The Comeback Trail". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
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