The Comeback Kid (1980 TV Movie) User Reviews

Ritter Very Good in Emotional TV Movie

[thehappychuckler · 7/10 · 16 January 2020]

A cocky, beer-slugging, self-centred minor league baseball player named Bubba Newman (John Ritter) has hit a real crossroads in his life. All he knows is baseball and chasing skirts and now he is told that at age 29 he is being sent down and might be the end of his chances of making the bigs. In a scene that was a little too reminiscent of BAD NEWS BEARS a bunch of kids find him passed out on a pitching mound surrounded by beer cans. In the end he meets up with Megan Barrett (Susan Dey) who gives him the job of coaching those very kids for a track meet.

Ritter is very good in the lead role and as usual makes this TV movie worth watching. Dey is very good as well who doesn't just accept everything Bubba tells her. There is a big twist in the film as well that I won't mention, but it really in fact makes this film more memorable in the end in how it effects all the characters. Also starring Patrick Swayze as one of Bubba's teammates and Kim Fields as one of the kids Bubba is coaching. Sadly another forgotten TV movie, but if you find it I would suggest giving it a viewing.

Average family drama TV movie

[vampire_hounddog · 5/10 · 13 August 2020]

A washed up minor league baseball player (John Ritter) finds he has a new purpose in life when he takes coaching a club for under privileged kids.

A fairly decent and heartwarming TV movie piece of cheese that does an okay job with the material it has.

Not that good, but eh, eh....

[srmccarthy · 6/10 · 22 December 2001]

I don't know how to explain this movie! It is NOT enjoyable as far as I am concerned! But it has some kind of idea that might appeal to others (especially sport fans).

It stars "Doug Mckeon" (later in the WONDERFUL movie "On Golden Pond"). He does not want anything to do with the bunch (0f boys).

SPOILER:!!!!!!!!!!!

What is sad is that it takes the DEATH of his younger brother to cause him to "COME BACK" (Hence "The Comeback Kid"). WHY is he so ready to take on the world now that is baby brother is dead and HOW can you make a sequel to this TRAGIC movie??!!!! Yet they did and it is called "The COMEBACK KID STRIKES AGAIN"! Who will die to give him his inspiration this time???????

A MOVING STORY JOHN RITTER WAS GREAT

[chameleonfilms · 17 January 2003]

Angie McCright was outstanding as little Lisa my favorite line would have to be "Are we still gonna have the track meet" A must see for any comedy fan.This movie is a great example of how John Ritter can make any kind of movie enjoyable.

Bad News TV movie

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 3 January 2021]

Bubba Newman (John Ritter) has been in the minor leagues for way too long and if he goes down one more level, he may as well never make it to the majors. So he quits to become the coach for a gang of poor kids - Walter Matthau, look out - and finds romance with Susan Dey. But since this is a TV movie, tragedy is looming and everyone will have to realize that life is not always fair.

Director Peter Levin made plenty of TV movies, everything from My Father's Shadow: The Sam Sheppard Story, Deadly Nightshade and Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story to Popeye Doyle, The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana and Washington Mistress. He's working from a script by Joe Landon, who also executive produced this and wrote Ritter's special, John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body.

This is one to watch for the cast, as beyond Ritter and Dey, there's Doug McKeon (who everyone else would say was in On Golden Pond, but I remember from Mischief), James Gregory (General Ursus!), Jeremy Licht (a member of The Hogan Family), Patrick Swayze, Angela Aames (Chopping Mall, Basic Training) and Kim Fields before she was Tootie.

Spoiler warning - one of the kids gets killed and it gets really dark. That really shocked me. Otherwise, this is the kind of TV movie that was made for those who couldn't get HBO and the opportunity to watch Amanda Whurlitzer, Kelly Leak and Timmy Lupis play the Yankees.