The main reason why I saw MAX DUGAN RETURNS is because it's the first movie where Donald Sutherland and Kiefer Sutherland appeared together tho Kiefer appeared for only five scenes give or take considering this is also his debut while Donald played a larger part. Yet it was very entertaining and funny nonetheless.
Michael McPhee (Matthew Broderick, here in his debut as well) awakens his mom Nora (Marsha Mason) that has fallen asleep while correcting exams for his medium school class. They rush in their car for going to school, but is stolen so she notifies police and lieutenant Brian Costello (Sutherland father) offers to drive her for work. In the late Nora's estranged father Max Dugan (Jason Robards) returns and says to have an heart condition and gives them the bulk of his estate. Some day later when Nora returns home and finds new appliances in the kitchen and a new stereo system in Michael's room, Dugan insists that they are game show prizes.
Dugan some time later reveals to Michael his real identity: he's an ex-convict named Gus Wittgenstein that was cellmate with Max Dugan in the big house and when Dugan was dying Gus accepted to take his identity. For avoiding prison time again because of his poor health Max leaves for Brazil for spending his last days on a beach and giving the rest of his money to Nora and Michael. Just the day after Michael wins his school's baseball game and when Nora and Michael reach for the car they see that Dugan uses it for leaving after waving them goodbye.
The plot was a bit implausible I admit it (how can you explain new kitchen furniture and a new stereo only after a night that someone who claims to be your estranged father arrived, or also how can you explain a new motorbike and a great dane after revealing of being an ex-convict that took the identity of a cellmate?) but nonetheless the acting was great by all (Mason, Broderick, Robards, Sutherland father since his son appeared for only five scenes without saying much) and there were some funny moments. And btw the animated sequence before the end credits with the car that turns into a plane with wings was very adorable drawings-wise.
Overall, one of those comedies from the 1980s that have to be watched simply for enjoying them, not one of those movies for which you have to analyze most things.
Michael McPhee (Matthew Broderick, here in his debut as well) awakens his mom Nora (Marsha Mason) that has fallen asleep while correcting exams for his medium school class. They rush in their car for going to school, but is stolen so she notifies police and lieutenant Brian Costello (Sutherland father) offers to drive her for work. In the late Nora's estranged father Max Dugan (Jason Robards) returns and says to have an heart condition and gives them the bulk of his estate. Some day later when Nora returns home and finds new appliances in the kitchen and a new stereo system in Michael's room, Dugan insists that they are game show prizes.
Dugan some time later reveals to Michael his real identity: he's an ex-convict named Gus Wittgenstein that was cellmate with Max Dugan in the big house and when Dugan was dying Gus accepted to take his identity. For avoiding prison time again because of his poor health Max leaves for Brazil for spending his last days on a beach and giving the rest of his money to Nora and Michael. Just the day after Michael wins his school's baseball game and when Nora and Michael reach for the car they see that Dugan uses it for leaving after waving them goodbye.
The plot was a bit implausible I admit it (how can you explain new kitchen furniture and a new stereo only after a night that someone who claims to be your estranged father arrived, or also how can you explain a new motorbike and a great dane after revealing of being an ex-convict that took the identity of a cellmate?) but nonetheless the acting was great by all (Mason, Broderick, Robards, Sutherland father since his son appeared for only five scenes without saying much) and there were some funny moments. And btw the animated sequence before the end credits with the car that turns into a plane with wings was very adorable drawings-wise.
Overall, one of those comedies from the 1980s that have to be watched simply for enjoying them, not one of those movies for which you have to analyze most things.