Touchback (2011)

Thanks for the memories!

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This one sets one... I came across this movie because I'd just read the article about Walt Disney's last words written on a piece of paper on the death bed - "Curt Russell".Following my "WTF?" I came to IMDb and checked Curt Russel's recent movies. Thus, I found Touchback.The movie is naive at some points but it kept my breath still for some moments along the way.In two words I would readily call this movie a younger brother of "Moneyball", don't know why, but I just feel this way.The movie touches some grown up disappointments mixed with teen-age expectations, but they all come together wonderfully by the end.Loved the experience..Walt, you were right.. if there's Curt Russell, there's a story. Touchback makes sure of it.

Scanned the cluttered movie store shelves for an hour before I found "Touchback". Both the cover and title were less than captivating but the IMDb reviews were good, so home it came.What a surprise! Time travel, decent football scenes, and enough romance to keep the wife well interested. The suspense and unpredictability of the ending iced the cake! If you are looking for a good movie for mixed company, to entertain a group of youth, or for a date night -- this is one to keep in mind.Despite being a box office flop, this movie has all elements of a great movie for its budget.

I accidentally ran across this film not knowing anything about it. The cast is exceptional. The writing is beautifully crafted. Though it is a film about a former high school football star, this is not a film about football. At its core, it is a wonderful love story about a man and the love of his life. There is some "time travel" in this film that is so effective. The editing is superb, especially towards the end of the film during some of the great intense football scenes. There is so much intense drama that has nothing to do with football. I was really blown away. It reminded me so much of some of my favorite films of all time: Its a Wonderful Life, Best of Times (which also had Kurt Russell), Mr. Destiny, and Back to the Future. A great film I would highly recommend to anyone.

This is not a good movie, but....it has many lovely qualities. That comment supports my theory that just because a movie is bad overall, does not mean you will waste your time watching it. I take note of setting, photography, acting, and any aspects of plot that jar significant thoughts in me.I'll go the next step...this movie is terrible, but I had a good time. I don't regret my Red Box purchase at all. It cost 4 dollars less than it would have at Blockbuster too.Before I go any further, let me call this a cross between Peggy Sue Got Married, It's a Wonderful Life, and Dancer, Texas.The movie takes place at the end of a high school football season in Ohio. I am not a Meteorologist, but wouldn't it be kind of cold? There is no indication of cold weather.The main character is one of the top football quarterbacks in the state, heading for a scholarship at Ohio State University, a football powerhouse. But he is only 5'10 and one half, according to IMDb's bio. of the actor who played him. That is clear throughout the film, as he looks up, literally, to his coach and teammates. Elite quarterbacks are never that height, with the exception of Doug Flutie. They are usually between 6'2 and 6'7. So I had to try to ignore that.The character goes back in time, but there is exactly ZERO explanation for how that happened. A 10-year-old could come up with that plot device without explanation. Just have a character fall asleep or pass out, and wake up in the past. It's like not doing your math homework, but expecting a passing grade anyways. It was too hard to think of some kind of Science Fiction explanation, so they just said, "Forget about it." The characters were around 35 in real life, while playing high school students. Perhaps it would have been wiser to have young actors play the youthful versions of our protagonists.Almost every cliché of a film about a broke farmer and/or small town football, is exploited in this film: loan problems, crop failure,corny locker room speeches, buddies, jocks, nerds, shallow cheerleaders, you name it.OK. Enough criticism. What I loved about the picture, was the emphasis on the unity and subtle delights of a small rural town. I also loved the fact that a couple winds up together due to happenstance, because that is true to life. Often we plan for one thing, but life happens while we are making those other plans, as the saying goes. Unlikely couples are more common than we realize.The acting is decent. Kurt Russell's character is clichéd, but he has a few good moments, when he explains the value of a small town. The girl from the T.V. show Two and a half Men was excellent. She looked the part and pulled off the role with commitment. Christine Lahti's role was not super demanding, but she gave it some soul, and the main guy, Brian Presley, whom I have never heard of, did an adequate job, considering the fact that jocks are not known for a range of emotions.I would have liked to see him show more emotion, but perhaps the writers and Director did not ask for that.Overall, a film worth watching, for its' basic message of appreciation for the life and love you have, mild football action, and a quaint setting.