So, I get this press release about a movie that is about a former high school football player that gets injured in the playoffs (the state championship game, no less) and magically gets a chance to re-live the moment. My radar starts going wacko and my heart rate increases and I hit “reply” to that email and RSVP to that advance screening as fast as I can.
In case you don’t know, I spent five years writing my first novel. It is a story about high school football, flight testing, time travel and redemption. It’s called Desert High and I think if you have any interest in those areas (or like the movies Friday Night Lights, The Right Stuff, Back to the Future), then you will eat this story up.
Here’s the deal: when I was a senior in high school (“What was the name of that school,” you ask? Desert High.), our football team went to the playoffs. I played inside linebacker and I loved it. In this first round of the playoffs, we get ripped off by some super bad officiating right at the very end (last play) of the game. Now, I know, I know… A lot of competitors will say stuff like that. But how often do the officials meet with your coach the following Tuesday in Lancaster, CA, admit their blown calls and apologize? Well, that’s what happened to us.
Fast-forward 32 years and I’m an old heavy metal magazine editor that sees his old high school buddies every once in awhile. What do we talk about? That playoff game against Mammoth. So, in my novel, I am shocked out of my workday at HM Magazine by a phone call from my brother-in-law, who really did work for the Air Force at Edwards AFB (where Desert High is located) and he tells me they have a time machine, they’re looking for a guinea pig to make the first manned flight and alter a seemingly insignificant event in the past – like a high school football game. So I accept this top secret mission, go back to November of 1980 and try to right the “wrong” of the end of that game. All sorts of things could happen. My 40-something year-old self is in the same location as my 17-year-old self (uh-oh – if we collide, that could end the universe!). But if I do end up successfully altering the outcome of that game and preserve our deserved win, well, that means we go to the next round. And what could happen there in the sand pit of Trona, CA?
I published this book (Desert High) last fall. My dream is that it would become a best-selling sports book and then, hopefully, be made into a blockbuster movie. I mean, the storyline kinda begs for a visual presentation like a movie. People have asked me (even friends whose characters appear in the book), “If it does get made into a movie, can I play myself?” My immediate reaction is: “I hope not.” What I mean by that is I want the movie to be huge – big budget, big-time actors. No offense to my friends, but they’re amateur actors at best (possibly horrible actors at worst). So, that’s my dream. The question, however, has made me imagine: “Who would I get to play the 40-something-year-old me? And who would play the 17-year-old me?”
Of course, I’d pick a handsome actor for both. Who wouldn’t? I’d go with Zac Efron for the younger Doug Van Pelt (why not?) and Kurt Russell as the older Doug Van Pelt (he has aged well and looks like he was probably a good looking young man way back when, which is true, and could possibly pass as an older Zac Efron). Laugh if you want to, but that’s my dream and those are my ideas. That would be SO cool to see happen.
Now, while I was writing this novel, which spanned 5 years (from 2004 to 2009), I was always very aware of other sci-fi and time travel books and football movies. The Best of Times has some uncanny parallels – Kurt Russell is the star QB and he has “the best arm in Kern County.” Kern County is the county that Edwards AFB and Desert High (and the town of Bakersfield, where that movie is based) are located. Too funny. Other movies, like The Butterfly Effect, always got my radar going while I was still in the creative process. I did not want to see ANYONE steal my idea (as if it were floating out there in the air, waiting to be snatched by another creative mind) and steal my thunder. So, when I first heard about Touchback, my first thought was, “Whew! I’m glad Desert High has already been published!” I just hoped it wasn’t too similar, or otherwise the court of public opinion and/or people’s memories would always remember the big movie first and if my book ever got made into a movie, it would always be seen as coming after.
So, imagine my surprise when I find out that Kurt Russell plays a star role in this one! Ha ha ha. Wow. It made me wonder if there’d be any other similarities… Russell does a good job of playing the high school football coach that leads the young main character to football glory.
Here’s a synopsis from the movie:
Touchback tells the story of Scott Murphy (Brian Presley), a former high school football star who sustained an injury that ended his promising career and eventually relegated him to the life of a struggling farmer and family man. Faced with a series of severe setbacks, Murphy has begun to rethink his life. But as he reaches a point of deep despair, he’s mystically transported back to his glory days. Given a second shot at destiny, he seeks counsel from Coach Hand (Kurt Russell) and a classmate named Macy (Melanie Lynskey), whom he had never noticed before. In the end, Murphy comes once again to a critical choice – a crossroads where he will have to choose what ultimately matters most in life.
Scott Murphy is a stud QB. He is named “Mister Football” in Ohio. His team is poised to upset the huge powerhouse school they’re playing (kinda like a Hoosiers in the sense of a smalltown, smaller school playing a larger one in the playoff tournament). With only a couple seconds on the clock, he drops back in the pocket, decides not to throw it, tucks the ball and runs. It’s an awesome John-Elway-in-Super-Bowl-XXXII moment, where the scrambling QB launches his body with no time on the clock and two defensive backs hit him simultaneously with such force that he spins around on his way to the ground. He’s over the goal line. It’s a touchdown that wins the State Championship game. He’s the hero, but his leg is bent back in an ungodly angle. The dude’s knee is wasted from then on. By the way, in case you’re wondering if I just spoiled your movie, this all takes place in the first couple of minutes.
He walks with a limp and this huge knee brace when the movie fast-forwards to the present. He’s a caretaker character with a good heart towards those around him, but he’s a bitter old man. He feels like his life is wasted. His farm facing bankruptcy adds the unwanted pressure for him to feel this way. He parks his car on a nice perch that overlooks the high school football stadium – the same place his dear old mom parked to watch his defining state championship moment. The car is parked right next to some power electrical equipment (like a transformer box or relay station) and something crazy happens and he’s back in time.
It’s funny at first, as it would be, especially because he didn’t plan this and he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on. But it’s the week leading up to the state championship game and before long he’s preparing to play. He has to wrestle with the consequences of his actions. All the momentum is pushing him to do something different so as not to injure himself on the last play. One option is to sit out and not play. His recruiter from Ohio State even tells him that they wouldn’t look down on him if he sat out this game. The big boys on the other team were mostly D-1 college recruits and his little school has little chance but to be clobbered (thus the upset).
Another dilemma involves this Macy girl. Macy is the girl he ended up marrying when his injury crushed his dreams of a career in football. He stayed (stuck) in the small town and eventually settled down with Macy. They have a family. When he sees her back in high school, he does something different. He takes notice of her. Back in the day he was the popular jock with the prettiest cheerleader as his girlfriend and future trophy wife. It’s funny to see him wrestle with the trophy girlfriend and the heartstrings that his future wife pulls on him – as his memory from his 38/39-year-old self is intact.
What does he do? It’s another fun dilemma to watch him deal with. Does he press forward with this second chance and do it for his dreams? Or does he do something else? The storytellers do a good job of stretching out the suspense until the very end.
I loved this movie. I was swept up in the emotions of the story. Of course, I had other emotional connections. Check out these other coincidences of details:
Scott Murphy comes home after a tough day and greets his daughter, who crawls on his lap. Her name is Kayla.
(I have a daughter named Kaela).
Scott Murphy comes home after another tough day and greets his dog – Biscuit. “Here buddy,” he says.
(I have a dog named Biscuit Buddy McGillicutti).
The state championship game takes place in ’91.
(My high school years ended in ’81).
Scott Murphy’s best friend, who is probably the third or fourth main character is a tight end. His number is 81.
(My number was #81 and I played tight end, although I don’t count that, because I was 3rd string at that position).
It’s funny, but I almost got that “Someone’s been reading my mail” feeling. I don’t quite buy that, but I didn’t expect there to be any strange coincidences like that. What are the odds?
As I stated, I loved this movie. It had all the elements of a story that I devoted several years of my life to, but these are also elements I love. Second chances? Check. Love? Check. Competition? Check. Football? Oh yeah. Teenage life? Check.
It’s not a Christian movie, per se, but the press releases I have received point out the parallels of how our past helps shape who we are and how God uses our successes and failures (what happens to us) to develop our character. Time travel is a way to thwart that. If it were possible, that could have terrible consequences.
Take, for example, your typical dating experience in high school. Odds are most people reading this dated one person in high school and then, through one reason or another, saw that relationship break up and then dated someone else later. It’s probably natural – especially during the young teenage years – to wonder about, “If I wasn’t in this relationship, I might be happier in that one…” This kind of fantasy happens in marriages, too, no doubt. Then, when you bring kids into the equation, what if you erased that part of your life? You’d erase the very lives of the children you had with your spouse. These are some heavy consequences to time travel. Just the tip of the ethical iceberg.
So, bravo, Touchback. Best movie ever? Not a chance. Thrill the heck out of this football fan? Absolutely.
Here’s some resources to check out:
Check out the trailer and get a FREE Discussion Guide at www.touchback-themovie.com and watch actor Brian Presley’s testimony of faith: http://bit.ly/touchbackyoutubetestimony.
What Other People Are Saying About Touchback:
“Touchback is an excellent, rewarding sports drama, with fine acting and solid direction…a compelling and absorbing movie that holds the viewer’s attention throughout.” – MovieGuide
“Touchback is a powerful and inspirational movie with many themes and morals that relate to the work we do in FCA, and I encourage everyone to support this movie when it opens in theaters April 13, 2012.” – Chris Kaiser, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
“Touchback is two hours of high quality entertainment packed with great moral lessons without getting preachy…a mainstream film that also speaks to faith-based audiences who can read the Biblical values between the lines.” – Curtis Wallace, COO TDJ Enterprises (T.D. Jakes)
“A touching, inspirational movie. It’s about life and the choices you make….it reminds me of the classic It’s a Wonderful Life…truly engaging. Makes you appreciate what really matters in life.” – Jay Swick, Absolute Sublime
“I would highly recommend this film! It was very inspirational and motivational for athletes of all ages!” – Stacey Rossodivito, Youth Leader, St. Kateri Church, CA
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