Taglines: Keep your eye on the ball.
The Comebacks movie storyline. Champ Fields is known as the unluckiest coach in the history of sports. After being forced into an early retirement, he’s given one last shot at greatness. Unfortunately, Champ is hired to coach The Comebacks, a talentless, slightly deranged college football team with a laughable roster and an even worse record. Armed with questionable morals, and weak players, Champ sets out to bring this team of losers together and make the impossible happen, win a game.
With a track record that boasts such successful comedies as Wedding Crashers, The Wedding Planner and the recently released, Employee of the Month, it is no wonder that Fox Atomic approached the partners at Tapestry Films to produce The Comebacks.
“Since we do a lot of youth oriented and big four quadrant comedies,” begins producer Andrew Panay, “I think they thought we might be right for this kind of material. They sent us the script, we read it and we jointly agreed that this was something that we thought was hilarious and exciting. I think most everybody has seen a sports movie or a sports drama. How much fun would it be to poke fun at those movies and also poke fun at the sports world just in general on a large scale? It was perfect for our company.”
“We thought it was terrific,” agrees producer Peter Abrams. “There were some very, very funny bits… and it needed a great director that could put his stamp to it.
To this end, the filmmakers hired director Tom Brady. Coming off of two comedies geared for the young audiences, The Hot Chick and The Animal, Brady seemed a good match for this material on several levels.
“We looked for a director and found Tom Brady,” recalls Abrams. “One of his strengths besides directing, is that he’s a writer… So, Tom brought his keen sense of humor to the material.”
“I read hundreds of scripts looking for that special one,” begins director Tom Brady. “When this one came along, there were a couple things that got me. No one had really parodied or made fun of these sports movies yet. And so that hook was great.
But in particular what got me was there’s a story there. They’re real characters, each character had its arc. And there was the potential for a big movie with real actors and real people and real emotion and if done right to have your cake and eat it too. You can root for these people all the way and feel all the things you’re supposed to feel in a sports movie, but make fun of it all along the way; and poke fun at all the clichés and conventions of all these typical melodramatic, overly dramatic sports movies that we’ve all seen.”
Creating a film that did not just go from joke to joke or from skit to skit was important to all the filmmakers. They agreed that if they created a story with characters that the audience could get behind and root for, the jokes would play off that foundation and ring true.
“Tom has been absolutely fantastic,” comments co-producer Michael Schreiber. “It’s always good to have a director who knows what they want. He has a clear vision of this movie and he’s able to vocalize that. So you know exactly what you’re getting.”
“I just had a vision for the film from the beginning,” recalls Brady, “that if you play the stakes real and if the characters feel human and three dimensional, then you have a real movie. And then on top of that, you have that level of parody and the big stunts and the cameos-then you have everything you want in a movie.”
Finding the right actor to play Coach Lambeau Fields was critical. Not only did the filmmakers need a comedic actor, but someone who could imbue the character with realism and heart. Into the shoes of the Coach stepped David Koechner for whom the role could not be more tailor-made. Having appeared as an extremely strong and memorable supporting player in such big screen comedy successes as Anchorman, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, The 40 Year Old Virgin, and Reno 911, the filmmakers knew he was up to the challenge of playing the leading man.
“David and I met for breakfast,” recalls Brady. “I just wanted to see that he was the guy that I thought he was. And within 10 seconds, we were both laughing and I knew in fact that he was the guy.”
Brady remarks, “He was the perfect actor for the role . I think he’s one of the finest comedic actors working today. He’s just ready and he brings it all. He’s so likable. He’s compassionate. He can modulate his performance. He’d be very dramatic if he needs to be. And sometimes that’s what’s most funny.”
“The thing about David that’s so fantastic,” comments Panay, “is that he’s a real actor. He’s such a good actor, who happens to be really funny. He’s not just a comedian who’s one note. This guy has so many layers — he’s got so much heart. And how do you not root for Dave Koechner? I think that’s the biggest quality he has — you cannot not love this guy!”
Koechner’s comedic talents were indeed appreciated by everyone on set, although his antics often brought with them an acting challenge for those trying to do a scene with him. Many of his fellow-actors were continually brought to the verge of hysterics.
As Matthew Lawrence recalls, “He’s just nailin’ this character. I mean we have so much fun. He goes on these rants and when he adlibs—it’s just hysterical. And it’s really hard sometimes when you’re opposite him, to keep a straight face.”
“In the first couple scenes I had with him, it was kind of intimidating because he’s so quick you don’t really know where he’s coming from,” reflects the youngest cast member, 17-year-old Martin Spanjers who plays too-little-to-play Randy. “And he broke me a couple times. I started laughing. I had to turn my head so it wouldn’t ruin the shot. But you just have to go with it and let it naturally happen. And finally, I got more comfortable. But he’s just really funny. I mean this is his thing. This is his movie.”
To sum it up best in the words of newcomer George Back, “He’s probably the super-omega-ultra-coolest dude ever in the history of the world.”
On the other side of the gridiron is Coach’es friend-turned-nemesis, Freddie Wiseman, played to perfection by Carl Weathers. Best known to filmgoers as Apollo Creed from the Rocky films, Weathers is a true icon in the world of sports and sports films, and the perfect choice to play the coach’s nemesis.
“Carl Weathers is a true movie star,” comments Brady, “always bringing enormous charm, intelligence, and an epic quality to all of his film roles. You can’t get more charismatic than Apollo Creed, or help be in awe of his character in The Predator or of Action Jackson. I knew Carl could be hilarious. He was also a former football star at San Diego State and played with the Raiders! All of these things made him a natural and perfect choice to play Freddie, Coach Fields’ friend and mentor.”?
“He’s incredible,” comments Abrams. “He is not wildly crazy like Dave can be but in a very straight ahead way. He’s very, very funny especially when the two of them play off of each other.”
Once next-door neighbors, Brady and Weathers had talked about working together casually in the past. But once the script for THE COMEBACKS was ready, the conversation became much more specific. “Tom came to me,” recalled Weathers, “and said ‘I’ve got this movie, and I think it’ll be really good. I’d love for you to be in it and I want to send you a script.’
“Well, lo and behold a script came and I read it and it was really, really funny. And when we started working together, Tom was a joy. I’ve always really enjoyed working with the directors who really support you as an actor and really gave you an opportunity to bring as much to the table as you can.”
With a long history both in front of the camera and as a filmmaker, Brady did indeed take to heart comments and suggestions that the experienced and well versed Weathers brought to the table.
“Carl is also a filmmaker in his own right and brought an intelligence and ‘big picture’ view to the project,” Brady comments. “Incorporating Carl’s ideas really elevated the third act to a new level!”?
Once Koechner and Weathers were in place, the next step was to find the prefect group of young actors to play the rag-tag team of misfits that make up The Comebacks. “When we went through the casting process,” recalls co-producer Kevin Sabbe, “we really searched for young talented actors who we felt were going to be the next big thing. And more than anything, we searched for talent who was really, really funny.”
From the more experienced Matthew Lawrence, Robert Ri’chard and Martin Spanjers, to relative newcomers George Back, Jermaine Williams and Jesse Garcia, the cast all brought humor, energy and a willingness to go the distance (even over the line!) to bring the team to life. Additional team members Noureen DeWulf and Jackie Long, as well as young Brooke Nevin, who plays the coach’s daughter, round out the cast.
“We found a group of very talented young actors who are all funny,” comments Abrams. “I think it helps to have a funny piece of material, but we also have a really skilled group of kids working.”
Director Tom Brady remarks on the cast, “I was looking for gifted actors who brought something extra special to the table – a brilliant spark, a comedic twist – actors who, although their roles were inspired by somewhat ‘stock’ types, who would transcend those roles and make them original and lasting film characters.” He continues, “Most of the roles for the team members, I discovered during casting – which I consider to be one of the most important parts of the process.”
Brady continues, “Without exception, I was pleased and every member of the team took their parts to a new level. The amount of talent on this set was insane, and I anticipate that we’ll all look back five years from now and say, ‘how did they ever get George Back, Robert Ri’chard, Jackie Long, Brooke Nevin, Noureen DeWulf, Martin Spanjers, and Jermaine Williams ALL in one film!'”?
In a few cases, Brady had worked with talent involved in the film before, so he had the advantage of already knowing what they could do. “I worked with Matthew Lawrence on “The Hot Chick” and knew he would make the perfect Lance,” comments Brady. “Matt brings an enormous amount of integrity to every role he plays. His portrayals are airtight, and as a leading man he is incredibly versatile. He is natural, confident and a ‘guy’s guy,’ and he is also strikingly handsome and can play the vulnerability of romantic situations like very few actors his age. Matthew is also a solid, well-balanced guy who has easily made the transition from child actor (Mrs. Doubtfire) to teen idol to adult leading man. This is a guy who can be a huge film star.”?
The young talent was eager to be a part of a comedy of this level and to have the ear of the filmmakers – Brady in particular – to listen to their ideas. “He actually sat each and every one of us down for about an hour session just to give him our ideas about our characters,” recalls Jermaine Williams, who plays IPod, the Coach’s side-kick.
In addition to the talented central cast, the filmmakers couldn’t have been happier with the dozens of other talented actors, comedians and athletes who agreed to appear in the film in cameo roles. Although most of them only worked for a single day, the results are surprising, hysterical and satirical. Much of the success in booking these people is credited by producer Abrams to having shot the film in Los Angeles and to the presence of Koechner.
As Abrams explains, “We just found a group of very talented people that allowed the film to be chock full of cameos. It was our considered opinion that if we stayed in Los Angeles we’d have a better chance to get people to come play for a day. As opposed to going somewhere else, where a day plus two days of traveling might mean they wouldn’t be able to do it.
“But also, when we went out to find actors and comedians to come do cameos, when they found out that Dave was the star, they all signed up because they all love him. Within the comic actor world, he’s revered – everybody loves Dave Koechner and they think he’s brilliantly funny.”
From the world of sports, the list is stellar and includes Super Bowl winners, a World Series ball player, top NBA talent and sportscasters. Among those appearing in the film are ex- football stars Eric Dickerson, Lawrence “LT” Taylor and Michael Irvin, retired mega-stars Dennis Rodman and Bill Buckner, as well as John Salley, Chris Rose, Frank Caliendo, and Stacy Keibler.
The Comebacks (2007)
Directed by: Tom Brady
Starring: Carl Weathers, David Koechner, Matt Lawrence, Brooke Nevin, Melora Hardin, Noureen DeWulf, George Back, Jermaine Williams, Will Arnett, Finesse Mitchell
Screenplay by: Kevin Sabbe, Tom Brady
Production Design by: Marc Fisichella
Cinematography by: Anthony B. Richmond
Film Editing by: Alan Edward Bell
Costume Design by: Salvador Pérez Jr.
Art Direction by: Douglas Cumming
Music by: Christopher Lennertz
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout and some drug material.
Distributed by: Fox Atomic
Release Date: October 19, 2007
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