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Maverick Entertainment's Latest Comedy Masterpiece 'The Comeback' Features Taye Diggs And Apryl Jones

Maverick Entertainment, the independent studio celebrated for its commitment to Black cinema, dropped a comedic bombshell with their latest offering, The Comeback . This family comedy is currently streaming on NBCUniversal’s Peacock with a promise of laughter, love, and relatable chaos.

Starring Taye Diggs and Apryl Jones , The Comeback is a rollercoaster of emotions that dives into the life of the Murray family as they embark on an unexpected journey back to their hometown of Atlanta. When their seemingly perfect plan collides with a whirlwind of family issues, a mom’s new boyfriend, and a parade of ex-lovers, chaos ensues, leaving audiences in stitches while empathizing with the relatable challenges faced by this lovable and quirky family.

Penned by J. Carter, known for his skillful fusion of humor and heartfelt storytelling, The Comeback promises an unforgettable movie experience. “After holding onto the script for five years,” said J. Carter, “I found the perfect actors in Taye Diggs and Apryl Jones to portray Jeff and Tisa Murray, making their characters relatable to everyone.” 

Diggs, a seasoned Hollywood veteran known for his exceptional performances in films like Rent and The Best Man , as well as notable TV shows such as All American , takes the helm as Jeff Murray. His charisma and impeccable comedic timing shine through as he brings to life the character of a determined father navigating the unexpected twists and turns of life.

Jones is a rising star, known for her appearances in shows like Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood and films including I Got The Hookup 2 , delivers a captivating performance as Tisa Murray. Her portrayal of a strong and resilient wife attempting to find her footing amidst the comedic chaos is bound to leave audiences clamoring for more.

As the release date for The Comeback draws near, anticipation is building for what promises to be a side-splitting, heartwarming, and unmissable cinematic experience.

The Comeback is available to stream now, on Peacock.

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‘The Comeback’ Trailer: Taye Diggs And Apryl Jones Star In New Rom-Com Film

The release date and trailer have been revealed for The Comeback, the rom-com film starring Taye Diggs and Apryl Jones.

Maverick Entertainment, announced that the film will be available for streaming on NBCUniversal’s Peacock beginning Aug. 25.

The comedy chronicles the journey of Jeff Murray and his wife, Tisa Murray, as they return to their beloved city of Atlanta.

Here’s the official synopsis:

The Comeback takes an unexpected turn when the Murray family’s seemingly perfect plan collides with a whirlwind of family issues, A mom’s new boyfriend, and a parade of ex-lovers eagerly awaiting their return. The resulting chaos will have audiences rolling in the aisles while sympathizing with the relatable challenges faced by this lovable and quirky family.

J. Carter, who wrote the film, said of the announcement, “After holding onto the script for five years. I found the perfect actors in Taye Diggs and Apryl Jones to portray Jeff and Tisa Murray, making their characters relatable to everyone,” transcending race, background, and beliefs.”

Watch the trailer below:

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creative. sincere. loving. fun.

• Entertainment

New Movie: ‘The Comeback’ Starring Taye Diggs & Apryl Jones

“The Comeback,” set to hit streaming on NBCUniversal’s Peacock August 25th . Starring the immensely talented Taye Diggs and the charismatic Apryl Jones , this uproarious comedy follows the journey of Jeff Murray and his wife, Tisa Murray , as they move back to their beloved hometown of Atlanta .

“The Comeback” takes an unexpected turn when the Murray family’s seemingly perfect plan collides with a whirlwind of family issues, A mom’s new boyfriend, and a parade of ex-lovers eagerly awaiting their return. The resulting chaos will have audiences rolling in the aisles while sympathizing with the relatable challenges faced by this lovable and quirky family.

Written by the visionary J. Carter, known for his skillful blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling, “The Comeback” promises an unforgettable movie experience. “After holding onto the script for five years,” said J. Carter, “I found the perfect actors in Taye Diggs and Apryl Jones to portray Jeff and Tisa Murray , making their characters relatable to everyone,” transcending race, background, and beliefs.

Hollywood veteran Taye Diggs , renowned for his outstanding performances in films like “Rent” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” as well as TV shows like “All American” and “Empire,” showcases his exceptional talent as Jeff Murray . Diggs brings his unique charisma and comedic timing to the role, portraying a determined father navigating life’s unexpected curveballs.

Rising star Apryl Jones shines as Tisa Murray , a strong and resilient wife trying to find her footing amidst the chaos. Previously seen in shows like “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood ” and movies “I Got The Hookup 2,” and “You Married Dat,” Jones delivers a captivating performance that will leave audiences yearning for more.

Rising star Apryl Jones shines as Tisa Murray , a strong and resilient wife trying to find her footing amidst the chaos. Previously seen in shows like “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood ” and movies “I Got The Hookup 2,” and “You Married Dat,” Jones delivers a captivating performance that will leave audiences yearning for more. See the trailer inside….

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The comeback.

Directed by Chris Huo

Uncle Hua, who has lived in the old street for many years, is highly respected by the neighbors and has been selling antiques for a living. "If you are in trouble, find Uncle Hua" has almost become the life creed of the neighbors in the neighborhood. Because of the real estate business, the old street was forcibly demolished by the local Qinglong Gang. Six corpses, seven passports, and guns were accidentally found inside the wall of Uncle Hua’s antique shop, causing everyone to be horrified. All this was seen by the homeless old man Cao... ...At the same time, Uncle Hua was hunted down by a mysterious organization headed by Ajie. Who was Uncle Hua? Everything became complicated and confusing.

Simon Yam Andy On Yuen Wah Jiang Peiyao Mu Lei Waise Lee Chi-Hung Norman Chui Siu-Keung

Director Director

Producer producer.

China Hong Kong

Alternative Titles

零号追杀, lhzs, The.Comeback, The Old Guy, Truy Sát Số 0

Thriller Action

Releases by Date

21 jul 2023, releases by country.

108 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by HKFanatic ★★★

A straight-to-streaming Chinese film that utilizes enough familiar faces from the glory days of Hong Kong action cinema to give this the feeling of a cozy reunion—Simon Yam, Yuen Wah, and Andy On are all in attendance. The plot is more or less a variation on "The Bourne Identity," with Simon Yam playing an amnesia-plagued antiques dealer who ultimately learns he used to be a bad-ass spy, but the story delivers enough twists—and swarms of attack drones—along the way to keep things interesting.

Granted, leading man Simon Yam is an actor rather than a martial artist and he's also considerably older than our main villain Andy On, so it was perhaps foolhardy to expect the two of them to throw…

Review by Filipe Furtado ★★★

High-energy China/HK DTV. There's a little too much digital, but otherwise, it could almost pass for a late-90s local action film. Simon Yam gets one of his rare later day lead parts and is having a great time, and the movie is packed with old school Hong Kong actors plus Andy On for that early post-handover feel. It moves fast enough to get past any shaky storytelling, and the action is solid and loud. Some people get very nostalgic while watching The Holdovers, and I guess I have this.

Review by Thor ★★★½

Simon Yam is the man. He has always been one of my favorite Hong Kong actors and seeing him rock this movie is a pleasure as always. He takes on Andy On in an action-packed battle, which isn’t as epic as say the fairly recent Donnie Yen vs Nicolas Tse in Raging Fire , but it definitely is entertaining nonetheless. The film is very flashy which does give it a cool look, but it’s also a bit too much at times, resulting in the attention straying from its original focal point: Yam.

Review by Fu for Thought ★½ 1

For this film, Yuen Wah, Andy On and Simon Yam needn’t have COMEBACK after day one of shooting.

Review by addPALM ★★★½

even it's had a same problem with "Blind War" (messy edited, paper-thin characters, unnecessary humor). this chinese DTV version of "Headshot" meet "Red" is kinda silly but pretty descent fun with a gun-blast shootout, bullet flying around and another badass performance by Simon Yam.

Review by Martial Arts Film Freak ★★

I wanted more from this. It felt like it never got out of 3rd gear. Some of the action was fun but Simon Yam never really fit the mold of an action star for me.

Love him in more dramatic roles though.

Review by FabricatedHuman ★★★½

Feels like a sequel with some odd tonal shifts it's unnecessarily overplotted and really dumb but never boring. Good action and Yam, On and Yuen are invested enough it works.

Review by FakeRobHunter ★★★½

Story and structure are all over the place, but come to THE COMEBACK (2023) for the action and you won't be disappointed. Chris Huo's latest DTV effort looks great, the action is ridiculous but creative and fun, and both Simon Yam and Andy On bring the heat. Streaming on iQIYI.

Review by Niels Matthijs (Onderhond) ★★★½

A fierce action flick that combines the strengths of Hong Kong and Chinese action cinema. If it had been a tad shorter and more focused, it might've been a personal favorite, but it was just a little too messy in certain parts. That said, if you're looking for some moody action, this film has you covered.

Uncle Hua lives a secluded life after he lost his memory years ago. When a gang comes around and threatens people in the neighborhood to sell their houses, Hua stands up for them. It triggers an old memory and soon people from Hua's past are coming back to haunt him.

It's cool to see people like Simon Yam, Wah Yuen, and Andy On once…

Review by Chad Chen ★★

《零號追殺》 【電影簡介】： 在老街生活多年的華叔（任達華 飾），倍受街坊尊敬，一直以賣古董為生。 “有困難，找華叔”幾乎成了街坊鄰居們的生活信條。因為地產生意，老街遭當地青龍幫強拆，華叔古董店牆內意外發現6具屍體、7本護照以及槍支，引發眾人驚駭，而這一切被老街的流浪漢曹老頭看在眼裡… …與此同時，華叔遭到以阿傑（安志傑飾）為首的神秘組織追殺，華叔究竟是誰？一切變得的撲朔迷離。

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The Comeback (2023)

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‘The Comeback’ Reviews: Lisa Kudrow’s Reality TV Satire Is ‘Biting,’ ‘Brilliant’ and ‘Breathtaking’

Critics praise Lisa Kudrow’s “ahead of its time” HBO comedy, saying that entertainment has finally caught up to the groundbreaking show

(Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you have not yet seen the Season 2 premiere of HBO’s “The Comeback” entitled “Valerie Makes a Pilot.”)

Lisa Kudrow makes a case for being one of the hardest working women in show business with the debut of her second concurrent series. While “Web Therapy” continues on Showtime, HBO launched the long-awaited return of “The Comeback,” Kudrow’s one-season wonder from 2005.

Created by Kudrow and Michael Patrick King ( “Sex and the City” ), “The Comeback” took a look at the exploding reality television format, as well as the challenges of being a middle-aged woman in Hollywood. The show was on the forefront of entertainment, properly anticipating the explosion of reality TV like the “Real Housewives” franchise on Bravo and its ilk.

TheWrap’s own Mekeisha Madden Toby lauded the sitcom return, declaring it ahead of its time when it debuted. This time, though, she sees great things ahead for both the show and its star, Lisa Kudrow , for whom she predicts an Emmy.

“Blame it on low ratings, being ahead of its time or an unfair comparison to its time-slot neighbor, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ but ‘The Comeback’ never took off the way it should have,” she wrote. “That will likely change when the second season debuts Sunday, nearly a decade after Kudrow’s narcissistic but well-meaning character Valerie Cherish waved goodbye. Upon the show’s eight-episode return, expect a lot more depth, social and industry mockery and uncomfortable but brilliant laughs from Kudrow and wonderfully cast guest stars such as  Seth Rogen ,  Andy Cohen  and RuPaul.

Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker fully embraced the “meta” elements of the show’s comeback, praising the fictionalized show-within-the-show that actually chronicles the events of “The Comeback’s” first season. But standing tall and proud at the center is Kudrow’s Valerie Cherish.

“The original ‘Comeback’ may have emerged too early, before the rise of the alienating heroine, from Mindy Lahiri to Carrie Mathison, Hannah Horvath, and Olivia Pope,” she wrote. “Even among this sorority, however, Valerie stands apart. With her Katharine Hepburn warble and her synthetic grin, Kudrow’s Valerie is a marvel: the performance veers toward cruel camp, then shivers with vulnerability. Like Holly Golightly, Valerie is no phony, because she’s a real phony. From a certain angle, even her narcissism begins to seem valiant–a stubborn resistance to an industry that wishes she’d disappear. In Valerie’s lifelong staring contest with the camera, she won’t be the first to blink.”

Michael Slezak of TVLine was mesmerized by the show, heaping praise on Kudrow. As several other reviewers did as well, he paid particular notice to Kudrow’s performance of Cherish giving a cold read for the part written about her by her former “Room & Bored” costar Paulie G (Lance Barber).

“Kudrow is so breathtaking at the episode’s crescendo … that it’s hard to breathe as you watch it,” he wrote of her monologue. “‘You think I’m this dried-up, middle-aged woman. Look at the jokes you write, look at the track suit you make me wear — all saying the same thing: I’m old, I’m annoying, I’m un-f-ckable.” (This is what Valerie felt while filming ‘Room & Bored’ 10 years prior, and 10 years later — despite still enjoying a healthy sex life with her husband, despite still being a beautiful woman with real value in the real world, she has accepted this is her lot in Hollywood. And as a result, the words coming out of her mouth here ring like only the vicious, vicious truth can.)”

The A.V. Club’s Oliver Sava echoed the sentiment that Season 1 was ahead of its time, opening his review with the remark, “After nine years, the entertainment industry has caught up to Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King’s ‘The Comeback.’”

It was a biting satire of how Hollywood treats middle-aged women, rooted in a brilliant performance from Kudrow that turned a caricature into a multi-dimensional person forced to choose between her desire for fame and her dignity,” he wrote. “And almost a decade later, Valerie Cherish (Kudrow) is put in that position again. ‘The Comeback’   has finally returned for a second season, and it hasn’t lost any of the magic that made the first season so remarkable.”

Entertainment Weekly’s Melissa Maerz admitted that she was no fan of “The Comeback” when it premiered in 2005, but went so far as to admit she was wrong in the headline for her review of the second season. Even more, she was surprised at how much the show challenged her, then and now.

“It dares to truly implicate everyone-the actors, the writers, and especially the viewers-for allowing Hollywood to demean people, for actually creating a market for it. In one episode, Valerie is forced to act out a scene in which Mitch, high on heroin, actually tries to shoot Mallory. Trying to comfort Valerie, someone on set tells her that all TV writers want to kill their lead actors. Consider that for a second: one of ‘The Comeback’s’ writers wrote that line for Kudrow to hear. So who’s more passive-aggressive: the writer for writing that joke, or me for feeling no qualms about laughing at it?”

“The Comeback” airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO. Meanwhile, Lisa Kudrow can also be seen starring in “Web Therapy,” Wednesdays at 11 p.m. ET on Showtime. 

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Dance academy: the comeback, common sense media reviewers.

Captivating, graceful story of young dancers on the verge.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Strongly advocates reaching for goals with determi

Central character has strong arc: overcomes self-d

Kissing. Reference to a character's putting nude p

"Damn." A fart.

Parents need to know that Dance Academy: The Comeback is a feature film that brings back the characters and stories that appeared in three seasons on the award-winning Australian television series Dance Academy . The series, a critical success with a passionate fan-base, centered on talented students…

Positive Messages

Strongly advocates reaching for goals with determination, passion, and a realistic assessment of opportunity. Be willing to move on from failure; accept small victories along the way. Values promoted: loyalty, empathy, courage, ethical behavior.

Positive Role Models

Central character has strong arc: overcomes self-doubt and initial reservations about her future by simply going forward with determination, patience, and a willingness to work hard. Setbacks, while difficult, seem to make her more resolute. She is a loyal and compassionate friend. Featured characters are also admirable and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. Ethnic diversity.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Kissing. Reference to a character's putting nude photos of herself online.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Dance Academy: The Comeback is a feature film that brings back the characters and stories that appeared in three seasons on the award-winning Australian television series Dance Academy . The series, a critical success with a passionate fan-base, centered on talented students at the National Academy of Ballet in Sydney. Starring the same dancer-actors, the movie picks up 18 months after the students have graduated. They're on their way to adulthood, trying to make it in the dance world writ large. Central is Tara Webster, a star at the Academy, who suffered what appeared to be a career-ending injury as the series ended. Expect a few mature themes -- dealing with a life-threatening illness, the ups and downs of romantic relationships, and handling a challenging career path -- but overall the movie is a wholesome, insightful look at those "next steps" that define all of us. A few kisses, references to nude photos online, and a fart constitute the only "iffy" material. An anticipated delight for fans of the series, the movie also works beautifully as a stand-alone film. The movie is appropriate (and recommended) for mature tweens and up. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (6)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 6 parent reviews

Realistic Ballet Story

Hard to follow the plot line, what's the story.

In DANCE ACADEMY: THE COMEBACK, Tara Webster ( Xenia Goodwin ) has amazed the pessimistic folks who thought she'd never dance again after a devastating fall. But her friends have never stopped believing in her. Chris ( Jordan Rodrigues ), especially, has been close by her side through it all. Each member of the close-knit group of friends who graduated with Tara from the National Academy of Ballet in Sydney is working his or her way through the challenging world of professional dance. Encouraged by the new director of Australia's premier ballet company, Tara auditions for a place in the Corps. When she doesn't make it, she opts to take a chance in New York, leaving Chris behind, and joining Kat (Alicia Banit) , who has found success in a children's TV series, and Ollie ( Keiyan Lonsdale ), who's struggling to find his place in the dance world. Tara's journey takes her to the dance companies and studios in New York, then to Austin, Texas, where another beloved member of their clan, Ben (Thomas Lacey), is staying with his dancer-parents. Opportunities come and go, relationships become fragile, and Tara must navigate the adult world with a newfound sense of purpose.

Is It Any Good?

Beautiful dance sequences, engaging performances, and a familiar story told with heart and originality should win many new fans and please already-devoted followers of the Australian series. And Dance Academy: The Comeback manages to be relevant, contemporary, and wholesome at the same time. The production (costumes, set design, music, editing, and cinematography) is top-notch. New York as a setting has been used in countless films, but director Jeffrey Walker makes it as fresh and alive for his audience as it is for Tara when she visits for the very first time. There's some advantage to having watched these talented performers over the course of the series' three-season run, but newbies will catch up quickly. Enjoyable and moving, with positive messages and solid role models, the story takes us to some unexpected places as well. Highly recommended.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Dance Academy: The Comeback as a stand-alone movie. If you were already a fan of the television series Dance Academy , did this movie meet your expectations? Why or why not? If this was your first introduction to the characters and story, did this film motivate you to find and watch the Australian series?

Much like in sports and other singular human pursuits, not everyone can excel or has an opportunity to engage in the arts (music, dance, etc.). How do movies and stories about artists enrich our understanding of what human beings are capable of? How does exposure to the arts enhance our appreciation of the world and its inhabitants?

How did Tara's personal story illustrate such character strengths as perseverance , courage , and integrity ?

It's fair to say that it's not essential to be talented to participate in artistic endeavor. Think about something that you might enjoy. What, besides expressing yourself, might you gain from joining in?

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : March 2, 2018
• Cast : Xenia Goodwin , Jordan Rodrigues , Miranda Otto
• Director : Jeffrey Walker
• Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian actors, Female actors
• Studio : Studio Canal
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : Arts and Dance , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
• Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 101 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Award : Common Sense Selection
• Last updated : September 23, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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‘The Comeback’ Review: London’s New Heartwarming Hit, Stopped in Its Tracks by Theater Closure

By David Benedict

David Benedict

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• ‘Minority Report’ Review: Hi-Tech, Lo-Drama in Flat West End Sci-Fi 1 month ago

A Hollywood director unexpectedly pops into an English regional theater to see a show. The actors get wind of his presence, thereby unleashing a chaotic, show-stealing performance of one-upmanship. That was Ken Russell’s framing device when he famously turned Sandy Wilson’s sweet but archaic musical comedy “The Boy Friend” into a fitfully inspired, often wildly self-indulgent 1971 MGM movie musical. It’s also the plot of the new West End play “ The Comeback ” — but the similarities end there between Russell’s juddering flop and this deliriously funny and gloriously well-played comedy.

Writer-performers Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen easefully play young whippersnappers “Ben” and “Alex,” a struggling double-act booked as the warm-up to a once-beloved, now elderly double-act Jimmy and Sid who, touring the country, have wound up in the fictional hick town of Diddington. For the first part of the evening, it’s a case of predictable good fun as the younger pair bicker and squabble about the state of their act and wonder what happened to their dreams.

Switching between offstage and onstage simply by means of a lighting change, their attempts to brighten up their own act by working up new material are deliciously silly and built around their stock-in-trade: bright, fast sketch comedy which leads briskly in an expected direction only to veer off suddenly into a gleefully surreal punchline that you never see coming, but which is also gloriously logical.

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Ever-hopeful, sweetly buoyant Alex is counterbalanced by the pessimistic neuroticism of taller, more hangdog Ben, and the pair of them swiftly establish complicity with the audience while rattling out gags at a delightfully fast pace. All that’s to be expected, since the two performers have won literally millions of fans this year via 70-second Twitter sketches about the perils of Zoom and communication in the time of Covid.

But there’s a hint of things to come when, by means of a change in accents, hats and physicality, they also start playing Jimmy and Sid, most of whose sweetly groan-worthy material has seen better days.

The moment all four discover the famous director sitting out front, everything, most especially everyone’s rampant ambition, instantly ratchets up several gears. And when Ben “accidentally” knocks out Sid, it’s not so much a case of rivalry as total back-stabbing, and suddenly, in rising director Emily Burns’ expert hands, we have two actors playing four characters in a furiously funny, wonderfully escalating, high-stakes, “Noises Off”-style farce.

Sight gags, impersonations, door-slamming, comedy chases: all the ingredients are in play with increasingly crazy situations growing satisfyingly out of the initial material. It’s all an inch away from chaos and, since it’s perfectly timed and ruthlessly controlled, uproariously funny, not least the lassoing of an audience member into the mayhem — who turns out to be a nightly changing celebrity guest. At the performance reviewed it was TV host Graham Norton, while Ian McKellen and Joanna Lumley have already pitched in.

It seems a wonder, firstly, that this duo known for rapid sketches have, thanks to two years of development via producer Sonia Friedman who found them at the Edinburgh Fringe, managed to write a satisfying, beautifully constructed, full-length comedy. It’s further heartening to find that their sharp observation of contemporary behavior is suffused with affection, not least for the era of the old-school comics whose heyday was long before they were born.

Opening cold in the West End with strict social distancing of the mask-wearing, temperature-checked audience, it was a producing gamble that was about to pay off handsomely when the U.K. government, having actively encouraged producers to re-open theaters safely, suddenly changed its mind and its rules once again, closing all London theaters just days after the show’s opening.

Friedman has released an unequivocal, strongly worded press statement: “This feels like a final straw: proof that this government does not understand theater and the existential crisis it is facing. Its short-sightedness is starting to look like serial mismanagement.” In the same statement she has vowed to bring the show back as soon as can be allowed. When, not if, that happens, she has a hugely welcome, heartwarming hit on her hands.

Noël Coward Theatre; 450 seats; £55 ($73). Opened, reviewed, December 12, 2020. Running time: 1 HOUR, 25 MIN.

• Production: A Sonia Friedman Productions, Tulchin Bartner Productions in association with Playing Field, Eilene Davidson Productions, Rupert Gavin/Mallory Factor, David Mirvish presentation of a play in one act written by Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen (known as The Pin).
• Crew: Directed by Emily Burns. Sets and costumes, Rosanna Vize; lighting, Prema Mehta; sound, Giles Thomas; production stage manager, Alex Constantin.
• Cast: Ben Ashenden, Alex Owen.

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Deadpool & Wolverine's Hugh Jackman Reveals Toughest Part of Wolverine Comeback Preparation

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Deadpool & Wolverine star Hugh Jackman admits he was "sore" from the physicality he endured to get back in shape to portray Logan for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. However, he's glad his body is "still responding" after his comeback preparations.

Speaking with People alongside co-star and close friend Ryan Reynolds, Jackman revealed that he grew to enjoy training for his Wolverine comeback after the initial intensity of his work alongside stunt coordinator Brian Smrz. However, the 55-year-old actor found bulking up to play the claw-wielding mutant the hardest aspect. “When I came back to it, it was really fun, and I was thrilled. My body was a little sore at the beginning, but I was thrilled that my body was still responding . And I realized how good it is for your brain. But the hardest bit…the food ,” he said. “I have to eat a lot. For me, for my body type, I'm naturally skinny. To get the size on, that's the hardest bit. That's the bit that does my head in. ” Reynolds elaborated on Jackman's regimen, saying “Yeah, the five, six meals a day, which sounds great to some people. I'm sure they're like, ‘Well, that sounds great.’ But it's not like the type of food that you would really necessarily enjoy .”

Hugh Jackman's Return As Wolverine Changed Deadpool 3

Deadpool & Wolverine helmer Shawn Levy speaks about how Hugh Jackman's Wolverine return changed the trajectory of the upcoming movie.

The physical toll of portraying Wolverine affected Jackman for years , forcing him to retire from suiting up as the character after 2017's Logan , though he admitted having instant regrets. Despite his age and having not played Wolverine in a long time, Reynolds said he "couldn't believe" the speed and physicality Jackman displayed in his Deadpool & Wolverine action scenes, looking like he aged in reverse. "Just the sheer relentlessness that you dedicated yourself towards stunts, choreography. It was the first time I'd ever seen how invaluable a background in song and dance is when you are doing an action movie. You hit your marks in those fight scenes with speed and confidence, the likes of which I have never seen. I don't care if you were 25, 35, 45 or 55. It was lightning," he said to Jackman. "Watching you do what just looked like a clinic on stunt work was one of the most impressive things I've ever seen in my life."

Hugh Jackman's Return Changed the Trajectory of the Movie

Jackman's confirmed return in 2022 changed the trajectory of Deadpool & Wolverine , making it a more high-stakes sequel than initially intended. The Phase Five film sees Reynolds' "Merc With a Mouth" and Jackman's Wolverine tasked with a major mission by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) that threatens to alter the Multiverse forever.

'Don't Come Back': Why Kevin Feige Told Hugh Jackman Not to Play Wolverine Again

Marvel president Kevin Feige adviced Hugh Jackman not to reprise his role as Wolverine.

The first R-rated film in MCU history, Deadpool & Wolverine is the most anticipated film of 2024 , garnering record ticket sales ahead of its summer debut . Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine stars Emma Corrin, Jennifer Garner, Karan Soni, Morena Baccarin and Brianna Hildebrand. The film is also expected to boast several celebrity cameos and introduce various X-Men affiliates/archrivals to the MCU.

Meanwhile, Jackman has been proving Wolverine is as uncompromising and hot-headed as ever during recent promos, including a hilarious anti-cellphone PSA showing in cinemas before release . Deadpool & Wolverine also turned up the raunchiness thanks to an expectedly lewd popcorn bucket to further build intrigue.

Deadpool & Wolverine opens in theaters on Jul. 26.

Source: People

Deadpool & Wolverine

Wolverine joins the "merc with a mouth" in the third installment of the Deadpool film franchise.

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The Comeback Trail Reviews

The star-studded cast can’t save this incompetent would-be comedy that doesn’t even understand how movies are made.

Full Review | Original Score: 0.5/4 | Jan 7, 2023

It's my hunch that the original was marginally more rewarding because expectations would have been lower without big name stars who agreed, for some reason or another, to take part in this remake.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 22, 2022

It almost works. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Oct 26, 2021

Unlike so many of his recent crimes against cinema, De Niro here appears engaged, enthusiastic and is genuinely funny.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 6, 2021

It's not another "Vanquish," which is as close to praise one can muster for a Gallo endeavor these days.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Sep 29, 2021

The Comeback Trail sings the praises of the power of the movies to inspire and transform lives. Film fans may enjoy the sentiment but they likely won't be as impressed by the slack pacing and obvious telegraphing of joke after joke.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 12, 2021

De Niro, Freeman and Jones, surprisingly, are the ones who keep the movie The Comeback Trail afloat. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 30, 2021

It's no surprise that The Comeback Trail feels so dang dated. Still, it's surprising just how tedious it can be.

Full Review | Jul 30, 2021

This disappointing crime caper, set in the 1970s, fails in its attempt to satirize Hollywood's film industry, leaving a hackneyed, unoriginal movie that lacks heart and conviction.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 23, 2021

The Coen brothers would have worked wonders here, but the director and co-writer George Gallo (he co-wrote Bad Boys) drives everything into increasingly silly sight gags...

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 22, 2021

The Comeback Trail fails as both a comedy and Hollywood love letter, despite the best efforts from an all-star cast.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 18, 2021

After a promising start, though, the initially witty material becomes increasingly thin, relying on the starry cast's energy to prop it up.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 17, 2021

Gallo's passably amusing film only operates in a colorfully vapid light.

Full Review | Apr 20, 2021

One of the funniest films of this turbulent year. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 4, 2021

The central gag works well and the performances are a hoot, yet an underwhelming third act results in a Hollywood satire that runs out of steam.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 6, 2020

In trying to make an interesting movie, it helps when filmmakers are one step ahead of the audience. In the case of The Comeback Trail, it's unfortunately the other way around.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Dec 3, 2020

Part of its problem comes from overfamiliarity. This is the kind of movie De Niro has made a few times now.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 1, 2020

Director George Gallo elicits an energetic performance from De Niro who breezily brandishes the extroverted chutzpah you'd expect from a low-flying Hollywood hustler.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 21, 2020

I won't risk calling this movie a miracle, but if this year has left you in desperate need of a good laugh, look no further.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 21, 2020

Robert De Niro has not been this amusing in a humorous setting for many years.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 17, 2020

The Beast Review

Opening with an actress screaming at an invisible attacker while filming a green-screen scene, The Beast immediately reveals its primary ideas: the eeriness of technological advancement, a feeling of deep anguish at a terror that isn’t really there, and the interaction between the two. Bertrand Bonello’s sci-fi — in which two people, Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) and Louis (George MacKay), meet in different eras — is an extraordinary excavation of the role technology plays in causing emotional mayhem, and a clarion call to those who would use it as a stand-in during daily human life.

If that sounds complicated, then buckle up: with three timelines and endless recurring symbolism, The Beast is, well, a bit of a beast. We begin in 1910, where Gabrielle is a musician; in 2014, she’s a model and actor house-sitting in Los Angeles; in 2044, she is considering “purifying” her DNA in an attempt to get a job in an AI-riddled society. In all three eras, she’s haunted by an intense feeling that something, one day, will annihilate her. Is it all in her head?

Though the story feels so attuned to current-day neuroses, its themes are timeless.

To the film’s benefit, Bonello doesn’t over-explain the backstory for this cold vision of the future, which is what sometimes dates less successful sci-fi movies — here, 2044 is a believable state of affairs, with experts already warning of the quasi-dystopia we could be facing with AI in an even closer timeframe. All we know is that after a ‘tragedy’ in 2025, AI has been increasingly relied upon in place of human-led employment, and that the government wants to ‘cleanse’ the workforce by purging them of upsetting memories from their past lives, thus reducing emotional suffering and removing biased decision-making — essentially, banishing ‘human affect’. A suffocating 4:3 aspect ratio locks us into this cold world where the streets are deserted, and the passivity of the populace — evidenced in a small but crucial role by Saint Omer ’s Guslagie Malanda as ‘doll’ Kelly — is pretty alarming.

Thanks to what is arguably Léa Seydoux’s best performance, we never feel lost among all the complex imagery across the timelines, from clairvoyants to pigeons, knives and dolls. With just a mere flicker in her expression, it’s so easy to identify with her passion and pain, even if the uncanny atmosphere leaves a deep feeling of ‘wrongness’ seeping into your pores like poison. There’s something in the 2044 scenes that feels strongly reminiscent of David Lynch, especially the way he makes you empathise with the anguish of Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks , despite all the strangeness in tone and mood.

Throughout, the director makes us just as afraid as Seydoux’s Gabrielle — afraid of what is the question that remains so riveting. Bonello mixes his high-concept sci-fi with real events — nodding to the 1910 Great Flood of Paris, as well as the 2014 Isla Vista killings by a misogynistic incel — to disorientate us as viewers, forcing us to sort through what is real and what isn’t, just like Gabrielle.

It’s in the 2014 timeline where there is the thickest atmosphere of inching dread and imminent catastrophe. Painted as a time of narcissism where nobody is really seeing, the world is filtered through sunglasses, videophones, surveillance cameras, YouTube and broadcast news; Dasha Nekrasova’s appearance as a model who speaks in an insincere Millennial drawl epitomises the empty posturing of the era. Bonello seems to be begging: wake up.

And in its purest essence, The Beast asks us to entertain a scary thought: if you could, would you go through a medical procedure that would remove all the parts of your brain that make you upset and frightened? Despite its esoteric imagery, the film is incredibly accurate in its exploration of anxiety, from the cruel nature of foreboding, to the ways we take refuge in the past, and how we often put ourselves in danger in our desperate pursuit for inner peace.

Though the story feels so attuned to current-day neuroses, its themes are timeless; it is, after all, loosely adapted from the Henry James novella The Beast In The Jungle , which notes: “It wouldn’t have been failure to be bankrupt, dishonoured, pilloried, hanged; it was failure not to be anything.” Bonello seems to echo in agreement: embrace the possibility of catastrophe, because a future without it is a whole different beast.

REVIEW: CSI: Vegas Season 3, Episode 5 Is a Giant Terminator Riff

• Episode proves CSI: Vegas isn't reliant on tech gimmicks.
• Inside jokes add fun, but Penny's subplot feels late.
• Beau and Catherine still struggle to mesh as partners.

The following contains major spoilers from CSI: Vegas Season 3, Episode 5, "It Was Automation," which debuted Sunday, March 24 on CBS.

The CSI franchise hasn't been afraid to try odd things, and CSI: Vegas Season 3 takes a surprising turn with "It Was Automation," which asks viewers whether or not a high-tech robot is a murder weapon or the actual perpetrator. This isn't even the weirdest episode of the show (that's still the clowns from Season 1), nor is it the most original. But it works because writer Dave Metzger is having a ridiculous amount of fun with the most basic of technothriller ideas.

In "It Was Automation," Robert Cuevas is killed during a factory night shift -- despite being the sole human in the building. Meanwhile, one of the CSI team has a severely delayed reaction to events from earlier in the season. The episode is largely straightforward and it has its flaws, but it also feels like a massive nod to the Terminator movie franchise. If Metzger wasn't riffing on Terminator intentionally, then he's done a great job accidentally paying homage to Skynet.

CSI: Vegas Season 3, Episode 5 Is a Fun Terminator Story

The plot features several entertaining references, now is the perfect time for the terminator to come back.

The idea of machine killing man is one of the oldest concepts in the science fiction genre, so anyone tuning into CSI: Vegas pretty much knows how the plot of "It Was Automation" is going to play out from the moment they see the robot. Everyone is going to worry that Ocho (yes, it has a name) will murder more people, until because this is a procedural, the very human perpetrator is ultimately revealed. But, of course, there will be some creepy moments both before and after that announcement. Metzger's script even throws in the near-obligatory cliffhanger at the end, as killer Cliff Roland's (guest star Gabriel Tigerman) car unexpected collides with a tree. It's obvious that the writer wants viewers to wonder if the AI-driven vehicle is responsible.

There's nothing new plot-wise whatsoever. However, that's offset by the fact that CSI: Vegas is aware of that and leans into viewers' expectations -- and then some. All of the guest characters are stereotypical programmers and corporate talking heads who lack any real social skills, with the clear exception of the technology company's suave CEO, Truman Thomas. But the script handles these archetypes with a wink and a smile. Marg Helgenberger's fan-favorite Catherine Willows skewers Thomas' assistant Sabrina's perky yet uncooperative attitude. And Thomas is played by actor Owain Yeoman, who's best known for his work on The Mentalist . However, he also portrayed the evil Cromartie in the pilot of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles . And if Metzger didn't know that, then it's a cheer-worthy coincidence when Yeoman is given the line, "I've been warning us for years about the dangers of sentient AI..."

Skynet gets name-checked, as does the Terminator franchise explicitly, thanks to Maxine Roby. Anyone who loves those movies or sci-fi can't help but watch this episode with a smile. When every other procedural plays with a familiar plot, all they get is tropes. When CSI: Vegas does it, it finds ways to have a great time. And because of the nature of this franchise, it also hits on a big-picture level.

CSI: Vegas' Technology Commentary Works on a Meta Level

The tech-heavy franchise seems to check itself, 10 friendliest tv robots.

CSI: Vegas isn't the first show to play around with technology as a cautionary tale, but there's an extra level to "It Was Automation" because of the franchise's emphasis on technology. There's the part pointed out on-screen, when a power surge disrupts all the machines in the Las Vegas Crime Lab and one employee has no idea what to do. But there's also the off-screen element: TV viewers associate CSI with technology. The franchise's visual language of scientific close-ups is one of its defining characteristics, and the term "the CSI effect" was coined long ago to explain the impact its fictional criminalists have had on real-world cases.

So for CSI : Vegas to tell a story in which technology is perceived as bad, and which then goes on to emphasize the importance of the human element, reinforces how this series is first and foremost character-driven. The cool lab stuff is still here, but it's not as much of a driving force as it was in every other CSI series . In fact, the best scenes in "It Was Automation" have nothing to do with Ocho the robot or the tech company. The moments that have actual impact are one-on-one conversations between the main characters, such as Max and Josh Folsom having their first real chat since he nearly got himself fired, or Serena Chavez talking to a few different people.

Max instructing her wayward employee on how to do work without machines is a pleasant reminder that these are characters who are smart, capable and believe in old-school legwork just as much as cutting-edge gadgets. (It does end up being slightly undercut when the woman comes back to profusely thank Max near episode's end.) There's also another joke that pops up, as Beau Finado mentions that in his previous career he was asked to appear on Undercover Boss , which is one of CBS' longest-running reality TV shows.

Can CSI: Vegas Clean up Some of Its Loose Character Threads?

Penny gill's subplots in episode 5 fall very flat, 10 best episodes of csi: vegas, ranked.

For all the fun to be had, there are two significant knocks against "It Was Automation" that bring it down to just a solid CSI episode , and both involve the character of Penny Gill. Season 3 revealed that Penny is engaged to coroner Jack Nikolayevich, and this episode has quite a few Jack and Penny scenes. But despite the best efforts of actors Sarah Gilman and Joel Johnstone, Penny and Jack's relationship doesn't add anything to the show. Perhaps because viewers were as surprised by the pairing as the team was, there's no connection to them on a purely fan level, and they don't contribute anything to the plot, either. The episode does provide a well-overdue reference to Jack's sister Sonya, who's still recovering from being poisoned in CSI: Vegas Season 2 , so hopefully Sara Amini will return to the show soon.

Past that, the major subplot here is Penny's harsh reaction to learning that Serena was working for Internal Affairs. This idea falls short in more than one way. Firstly, Penny is a charming supporting character, but she's likewise not impactful enough for the audience to become invested in her anger. Her friendship with Serena isn't as prominent as Serena's other relationships, so if CSI: Vegas wanted to explore someone turning on Serena, it should have been someone the detective is closer to. But the larger issue is one acknowledged in the episode: Penny's indignance comes way too late. Serena was revealed as a mole in Season 3, Episode 2, "Rat Packed." Three episodes later, the Crime Lab has moved on... and more importantly, so have viewers. The only person who got truly upset at Serena was Josh, and he was dating her, and even he's over it. Having Penny rebuke Serena now doesn't move the proverbial needle.

Much like how Catherine and Beau Finado haven't clicked as partners, Penny and Jack are so far in the same boat. And while "It Was Automation" takes a step toward fixing the former, Penny's problem with Serena feels literally out of time. This is an almost entirely self-contained episode that will make viewers grin and laugh and be reminded that the word "procedural" doesn't have to be synonymous with "formula." But there are still a few spots where CSI: Vegas can improve. The CBS drama is now officially halfway through Season 3, and after coming back with a bang due to Folsom's fate, it feels like there's something else still on the horizon. The show is at its best when it balances one-off cases with serialized character arcs and other than Folsom climbing his way back up the ladder, there hasn't been anything major changing the face of the Crime Lab just yet. That's the one thing keeping Season 3 from truly hitting its stride -- so if future scripts steer clear of these less relevant subplots, there's still time to catch viewers by surprise.

CSI: Vegas airs Sundays at 10:00 p.m. on CBS, returning in April 2024.

CSI: Vegas Season 3, Episode 5

When a mechanic is found murdered in a dark factory, the CSI team investigates whether the perpetrator was human or a humanoid robot with an AI operating system.

Release Date October 6, 2021

Cast Lex Medlin, Paula Newsome, Jay Lee, Ariana Guerra, Mandeep Dhillon, Matt Lauria, Mel Rodriguez, Jorja Fox, William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger

Main Genre Crime

Rating TV-14

Franchise CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Distributor CBS

Number of Episodes 16

• Main storyline features enough inside jokes to make it fun.
• Episode proves CSI: Vegas is not reliant on tech gimmicks.
• Penny's subplot is too late and not that relevant.
• Beau and Catherine still don't mesh well together.

• Cast & crew

After 20 years away Odysseus decides to come back. The King has finally returned home but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan war. After 20 years away Odysseus decides to come back. The King has finally returned home but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan war. After 20 years away Odysseus decides to come back. The King has finally returned home but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan war.

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• Juliette Binoche

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