I'm A Sucker For Movies Like "Touchback"

Touchback (2011)

Rated PG-13

Starring Brian Presley, Kurt Russell, Melanie Lynskey, Christine Lahti, Marc Blucas, Sarah Wright

Written and Directed by Don Handfield

The Story:

Scott (Presley) was a lock for college football greatness and possibly beyond. It all came crashing down 15 years earlier on the last play of a the championship game when his leg was shattered. Now, struggling to make ends meet as a farmer, he's refusing to acknowledge what used to be because of how painful it is. He then makes the realization that he's worth more to his wife (Lynsky) and children dead than alive, and decides to take fate into his own hands. However, he awakens to find himself with another shot at making his life different, 15 years earlier. All he has to do is not get hurt in the game and his future is set.

Of course he then begins to realize that his new future may not include his wife and he sets out on a course to win her over before the big game.

Add equal parts It's A Wonderful Life, The Family Man and Mr. Destiny with a touch of football, and you've got Touchback.

As I mention in the title, I'm a sucker for these kinds of movies.

No matter how bad your life may seem, for the friends and family around you, you're pretty darn awesome and they wouldn't want their lives to not have you in it.

That's a pretty good message, and I'm glad that filmmakers pick up this theme and run with it every so often.

I'm rarely disappointed in their efforts, and this movie proves to be no exception.

While fame and prosperity sound great on paper, to do so at the cost of love makes the trade-off seem pretty steep.

Needless to say, I had a pretty good time with the film, and it's officially in the running for best of the year honors.

Not bad at all.

Final Grade: B+

What Could Have Been... "Mr. Destiny"

Mr. Destiny (1990)

Rated PG-13 for language

Starring James Belushi, Linda Hamilton, Jon Lovitz, Michael Caine

Directed by James Orr

The Story:

Larry Burrows (Belushi) is having a bad day.  As he is set to celebrate his birthday, upon taking stock of what his life has amounted to up to this point, he realizes that maybe it wasn't just a bad day, it's a bad life.  As he commiserates with a mysterious bartender (Caine) about what could have been...

He finds he's about to find out exactly how different his life would be if he would have made that game winning hit when he was just a little kid.

No matter how bad your life is, it could always be worse.

And sometimes your bad life, isn't nearly as bad as you could imagine.

Yep, it's another variation of It's A Wonderful Life.

And, it's a good one.

Yes, go back in time to an era when Jim Belushi was headlining movies, and you'll find this little gem of a romantic comedy/fantasy.

Larry begins to realize that many of the ordinary things that he takes for granted, like his wife (Hamilton) and best friend (Lovitz) would have been lost to him had he made that fateful game winning at bat.

Yes, he would have been rich, but he never would have been happy.

Sobering thought really, and very nicely done.

One of my favorites.

Closing in on 25 years, it still holds up and is still an enjoyable film to watch.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Absolutely adore this little gem.  It gets a spin every other year or so.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 53 ~ Mr. Destiny

So yesterday, we took our first foray on the list with a time travel movie.

Today, it's like time-travel, but different.  It's the "What if?" movie.

Now, as a big fan of What If? tales (have a whole bunch of Marvel comics somewhere as proof), I enjoy them when they come to the screen and they do a great job with the concept.

These types of movies are like an alternate version of "It's a Wonderful Life".  The really good "The Family Man" was a perfect counter to that movie (and just missed this list) where the hero doesn't see what life was like if he had never been born.

Instead, you get treated to what life would have been like if you had made another choice, or done that special something.

In this case, it all revolves around a baseball game.

What the heck?  I thought I was done with baseball, and yet there it is again!!

I wonder if I can get a research grant to study the psychological effects of good movies with baseball involved?  Ka-Ching!

But anyway...

Larry Burrows (James Belushi) is an unhappy guy who is just getting by.  His wife (Linda Hamilton) and best friend (Jon Lovitz for the win!) are great... but his life is seemingly blah.

If only he had hit that ball when he was younger.  Then the girls would have liked him.  His best friend wouldn't be a nerd...he'd be married to the boss's daughter (Rene Russo).

Cue the magical bartender (Michael Caine) who makes his dreams come true.

The next thing you know, the whole world, or at least, all of Larry's world has changed...except he only remembers what he used to have.

And maybe...just maybe...that wasn't such a bad thing after all.