MOVIE MUSIC UK

Original Review by Jonathan Broxton

A comedy that spoofs the inspirational sports movies like Rudy and Miracle, The Comebacks tells the story of an out-of-luck coach named Lambeau Fields (David Koechner), who takes a rag-tag bunch of college misfits and drives them towards the football championships – and, in the process, discovers that he is a winner after all by redeeming himself, and saving his relationship with his family and friends. The film is directed by Tom Brady (no, not the New England Patriots quarterback – although that would have been funny!) and co-stars Carl Weathers, Melora Hardin and Matthew Lawrence.

The music for The Comebacks is by rising star Christopher Lennertz who, wisely, has taken a leaf out of the Elmer Bernstein book of scoring comedies and played things absolutely straight – which makes for a funnier movie, and a much better soundtrack! As befits the nature of the film, Lennertz was clearly inspired by Jerry Goldsmith, Randy Newman, and all his illustrious predecessors, and written a score which drips with noble and patriotic Americana.

The “Main Title” is a delightfully upbeat and dignified construction, full of fanfares and resolute honor and integrity; it’s various restatements through out the album give the whole score a pleasing coherence, especially during the flag-waving finale, “Go For the Win”. Elsewhere, Lennertz emphasizes the working class, salt-of-the-earth protagonists with mellow acoustic guitars (“Coach Takes the Job”, “Steers and Shears”, “Love Theme”), builds the tension and energy in the in-game action with driving percussion and throbbing orchestral tempos (“ACL Tears it Up”), adds a bit of Latino spice (“Jorge Juanson”), a bank of rocking electric guitars (“Comebacks First Win”), and even finds time to lampoon James Horner in “The Cornfield”.

It’s all great fun, and a hugely enjoyable listening experience which manages to hit all the right emotional buttons without taking itself too seriously. Unfortunately, Lennertz’s score was never released commercially, and is only available as a promo from Lennertz’s publicists at Costa Communications.

Rating: ***

Track Listing:

• The Comebacks Main Title (1:05)
• Yanking Off the Horses (0:56)
• Coach Takes the Job (2:00)
• Locker Room Speed/ACLS Tears It Up (2:36)
• Jorge Juanson (0:30)
• Comebacks First Win (1:14)
• The Cornfield (1:37)
• Dad and MacDonald/Victory (1:44)
• Steers and Shears (0:56)
• Love Theme (1:39)
• Die Sad (1:15)
• Taking Care of Business (3;13)
• Friday Night Who (0:49)
• All the Way to Mexico (0:58)
• Halftime Inspiration (3:02)
• They’re Killing Us (2:04)
• Randy’s Dream (1:05)
• Randy’s Nightmare/Cool Hand Coach (2:50)
• The Boob TD (0:57)
• Go For the Win (3:53)
• T&A (performed by White Beaver) (5:28)
• Can’t Keep a Legend in the Shadows For Long (performed by David Koechner and Andy Paley) (5:01)

Rating: 44 minutes 55 seconds

Promo (2007)