User reviews

MAX DUGAN RETURNS is a lightweight comedy from Neil Simon about a widowed schoolteacher (Marsha Mason) with a young son (Matthew Broderick, in his film debut), struggling to make ends meet, who one night is reunited with her estranged father (Jason Robards), who shows up on her doorstep wanting to make up for lost time with $687,000.00 in tow. Mason is reluctant to get involved with Dad because the money is not really his but when she learns that he is dying, she softens and decides to grant his dying wish...to spend some of his final time on earth with his grandson. Throw into the mix a police detective (Donald Sutherland) who, upon finding out who Max is, is definitely torn between getting his man and or getting the girl. This comedy charms from start to finish with a lot of classic Neil Simon one-liners and Robards turns in one of his most charming performances as Max Dugan. Yes, there are plot points that are left dangling and you just have to accept that, but if you can, MAX DUGAN RETURNS is a delightful and diverting comedy that will grown on you with multiple viewings.

A real feel good movie. Single mother, nerdy son, no relief, just the daily grind to reach another day. Jason Robards returns to the family unit (temporarily). It has to be temporary because of his larcenous past. Before he leaves again, he rights a lot of wrongs. He makes up for being an absent dad and grandfather in a very short period of time. Max is a fixer and a miracle maker and his eccentricities are contagious. You'll cheer him and his exit from the family AGAIN....

JASON ROBARDS is under-rated as far as I'm concerned. I've seen him in too many roles that HE has made memorable....

As an actress, Marsha Mason always makes the best of an occasionally bad situation ("Audrey Rose", "Chapter Two"), yet in "Max Dugan Returns" she really gets to shine with excellent material. She has often played mothers, but Mason's relationship here with screen-son Matthew Broderick is extremely warm and real--it lives beyond the wisecracks--and as a daughter to Jason Robards she's funny and occasionally maternal. Plot about an L.A.-area teacher struggling to keep ahead of the bill collector has a jaunty, lively rhythm and a vitality that puts it above most family comedies. When the teacher gets a visit from her long-lost father, carrying a satchel of stolen money, the story thickens but doesn't bubble over. Director Herbert Ross does a good job at keeping the situation grounded. Donald Sutherland is perhaps an odd casting choice as the detective/love-interest investigating Pop (Sutherland has played so many heavies, he still has an evil glint in his eyes and an edge in his voice), however he makes the character right for him. Credit Neil Simon with one of his best scripts; he has no agenda here except to make us laugh, though that presents a problem when reality sinks in and daughter and dad have to deal with the moral (and legal) ramifications of the money. There are some quick lines at the finale designed to make the ending a happy one, but I'm not so sure Mason would be in the clear after the police become involved--nor would her romance with Sutherland be quite so rosy once he has to choose the law over his feelings for her. And why does Mason say "he's going to drive" at the finale when the car turns into an animated plane? Would Pop ditch the car at the airport? And what about that lunch date at Pizza Hut? When Mason and Broderick show up in a taxi, wouldn't detective Sutherland be a little bit suspicious? *** from ****

I first saw this as a kid, in the early 80s, so it brings back fond memories to see it again. Clever dialog written by Neil Simon -- it has his signature all over it! A few surprising appearances as well, including Kiefer Sutherland as a baseball player (and he's not even credited on IMDb for this film), Shelley Morrison, who played Rosario the maid on Will & Grace, and David Morse as a cop. Robards plays Max Dugan, a ne'er-do-well absentee father who returns to the scene with a suitcase full of dubiously obtained money. His dying wish is to get to know his teenage grandson and to reacquaint himself with his daughter after 28 years. It's entertaining, well written, well acted. What's not to like?

I always enjoy watching this movie during those (rare) times that it comes on TV. I realize now that this movie makes an ideal holiday film, one that should best be seen around either Christmas/New Year's, or Thanksgiving holiday time. Why? Simply because it has such a strong "family values" theme to it. (Oh, and Max Dugan (Jason Robards) is also very generous with giving splendid gifts to his daughter and grandson (Marsha Mason and Matthew Broderick) in the film).

Perhaps a bit corny by today's film standards, I would nevertheless recommend this film to anyone who lived through the 80's - at least to those who were cognizant of everything that was going on around them. It should stimulate a few memories of the zeitgeist of the 80's (like, think "materialism" and "philosophy") - and it's all done without special effects or smoke and filter-lens photography.

This film shows Jason Robards in one of his best roles, with that deep, smooth, mellifluous voice of his just hitting all the right notes. Matthew Broderick is fun to watch in this film as well; it's an early peek at his big-screen work before he hit it big as Ferris Bueller in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Donald Sutherland is interesting as always, and Marsha Mason is excellent as the single mom trying to cope with all the crazy stuff happening to her.

If you like this film, I would recommend you rent "Rocket Gibraltar" (1988) starring Burt Lancaster. Another excellent family film that showcases a well-known actor in one of his last film roles.

The Neil Simon era in film didn't last long (circa 1977-1983) but some of us are old enough to remember when all they had to say in the trailers was "In Neil Simon's XYZ" to lure moviegoers. Many of the pictures were sub-par, but Max Dugan was a good swan song, in part due to Marsha Mason (if there were an Oscar for Best Couple, she and Dreyfuss should have received it for Goodbye Girl) but also simply because it's a neat little movie that's never received its due. Matthew Broderick's first movie. Donald Sutherland got a new haircut. Jason Robards may have been cast as an afterthought to lend cachet, but who else could play the ironic, world-weary, Kierkegaard-and-Wittgenstein-reading jailbird title character? I only have one acquired gripe: that so much of the dialogue is so "sharp" and "witty" that it feels contrived (not that they aren't memorable). This is one of the rare instances when a screenplay may be almost "polished" out of existence. That said, if you don't have a warm spot, you can forget it. This isn't a cinematic masterpiece (and I say that as a Polanski-and-Coppola type); but the story is neat and the performances are genuine, and in a decade when films set in L.A. focused primarily on glitz and bling-bling (which Max Dugan indirectly parodies), it's still refreshing to be made to feel at home among the sunlit bungalows of the city's low-key/low-rent, lower middle class suburbs.

Something about this movie just makes me feel like I 8-10yrs old again. So glad I came across it in my 40's & am able to share it w/my kids (18 & 21yrs old lol) but they understand the way I am w/talking about my childhood!! ❣

For the first half of Max Dugan Returns, you have a charming comedy about a hard working single mother, her son, and her estranged father who returns, saying that he's dying and wants to make amends. It's somewhere mid way through that the lead character (Marsha Mason in fine form) starts struggling and the conflict of the film dries up. Things are going ok with her students, her son, and her father. Things are going so well that her father has taken to buying her new cars and furniture for her house. The biggest conflict she has is with her new boyfriend (Donald Sutherland) who happens to be a cop and happens to be on the lookout for her father. This could have led to some interesting tension, but it doesn't. Things become to simple and easy for our protagonist and things just sort of happen to her, which doesn't make for a very interesting story.

Max Dugan Returns has a strong premise, an A-list cast, and Neil Simon as the screenwriter. So, what went wrong? It's still not a bad movie, but it's hard not to pine for what it could have been.

Nora McPhee (Marsha Mason) is a struggling teacher and a single mother to Michael McPhee (Matthew Broderick). Her crappy car gets stolen. Police detective Brian Costello (Donald Sutherland) investigates. Out of the blue, she gets a call from a man claiming to be her long-absent father Max Dugan (Jason Robards) who abandoned her as a child.

This one has three great veteran actors and one Matthew Broderick in his theatrical debut before WarGames. It also has Kiefer Sutherland in his first credited role. I've never heard of this movie. These actors make it immediately fascinating. It is written by Neil Simon. Director Herbert Ross is trying to reignite the old magic. There has some humor. It's generally sweet, but it needs more bite. This has all the names. I expect more from this grouping. It's still pretty good.

Despite having Charlie Lau helping Mathew Broderick's character in his hitting, the high school baseball scenes were completely unrealistic and look like a bad Pony League game. I cannot see a high school coach treat a varsity level game in this manner. Make the umpires look like real umpires, too.

Another thing, high school baseball is only seven innings and they are playing in the ninth inning. Come on, a little research here. A simple detail like this really ruins movies with sporting scenes that are filled with these kinds of errors.

Being involved with sports, some mistakes like this type of thing can lose any credibility. Movies need to make sporting events to look realistic, especially down to the officials. I see too often referees and umpires in out-of-date uniforms (I mean vintage 1940s) and doing things most trained officials would never do.

Ok Neil Simon has better movies BUT I personally watch this movie every couple of years and never get tired of it.

Brodericks first movie and Marsha Mason and Jason Robards with Donald Sutherland make it a better movie than mentioned here.

When your life is down never under estimate a "Mag Dugan" showing up to help out.

A sweet, pleasant inoffensive, resolutely non hilarious comedy which is fine if you're watching an episode of The Donna Reed Show but tends to set off the ol dismay meter if it's Neil Simon. You stay with it because it is sweet and pleasant and because it has some of your favorite actors doing sweet and pleasant work. Also, it's a nice visual time capsule of Venice, California in the early 80s before the Great Gentrification descended upon the hitherto boho community. And if you're a baseball fan, like me, it's great to see Mr. Anti Launch Angle himself, Charlie Lau, teaching Matthew Broderick to hit. Sure wish that someone was around to teach director Herb Ross how to hit (i.e how to do visual comedy). C plus.

I owe a great deal of thanks to Neil Simon for this awful movie. After 15 minutes I walked out and went in to see the only other film at the duplex, an unknown called LOCAL HERO! WOW! One of my all-time TOP 5 FILMS! It was a stark contrast between this tired old c**p and the brilliance that can be achieved in movie making.

I am about to tell you all about the movie that we saw in my ESOL class,"Max Dugan Returns". Since I haven't seen the whole movie I will tell you about half what happened in the movie. The negative thing in the movie, was they used some bad words. The positive thing that I learn from this movie was always do the right things, do not hurt anyone in any kind of ways. Neil Simon is trying to say be with your family; dont ever stop caring about your family. Always take care of them no matter how much it will cost because it is mom and dad who gave birth to you. If you leave them or stop caring about them they will regret why they gave birth to you. Jason Robards did a real good job as Max Dugan. He did not mess up, he had confidence in himself. He would not take no for an answer and he really cared about his family. Marsha Mason did real good job in acting also, because she had confidence in herself. She did a nice job as a mother and she did a fine job as a daughter. The policeman thought there was something wrong or there was something going on with his girlfriend Nora MCPhee. How did she get a brand new car, and $5000 in cash in her purse? So he started getting worried. Then he wondered if Nora's dad gave her the money. Mathew Broderick palyed a role in this movie as Nora McPhee's son Michael McPhee. He was just like the other kids played sports and do what others did. He did not know about his grandfather. His mom did not tell him but he was worried about his mom too that where is she getting all the mony and all the new stuff from. I give this film a 10 because i really liked this film especially because they had baseball stuff in the film. Baseball is my favriote sport. I really enjoyed this movie for it was very fun and it was funny too. I liked everything about the movie for it was a really nice movie I hope to watch it again.

I happened to be channel surfing this weekend when I passed by Flix, and this was on. It had me laughing so hard. Great writing in this one.

Probably one of the best Neil Simon has done. The story is based on a widowed schoolteacher raising her teenage son on her paltry salary and trying to raise him to be a good person but her long lost terminally ill father reenters her life seeking to spend his last six months with her and his grandson. Complicating matters is he is also bringing along a satchel with 647 thousand dollars he skimmed off a casino while working as a blackjack dealer. Although the money was originally his when he owned the land the casino he stole from "legally separated" him from it, his daughter is still worried about the influence of such dealings on her son. There is also a special appearance by the late Charlie Lau, former batting coach for the Chicago White Sox. Great for the whole family.

I love this movie,It's a small low budget film that is simply a joy to watch,the characters are great.I can't wait until Fox releases Max Dugan Returns on DVD!!!The story is not lost in a bunch of silly special effects,come to think of there no special effects at all.I you want to enjoy a bit of nostalgia see this movie.

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.

I remember as a kid being intrigued by the ad for this movie, with its cartoon image and its stick-in-the-head tagline ("Prices are double. Your love life's in trouble. The car won't start. Your boss has no heart. The door squeaks. The roof leaks. Your stereo just went mono. All you need is a little Max Dugan.") But the movie disappeared quickly, and it seemed to have vanished completely, since I never remember it coming on television. I was surprised that it received a DVD release, since there was nothing to indicate it had built a cult. Anyway, I decided to finally watch it.

Although it's branded as a comedy, it really isn't. Yes, there is the occasional one-liner, but mostly it's a light-hearted drama. And a charming one at that. Neil Simon wrote some very likable characters, even down to the ones who show up quickly and disappear never to be seen again in the movie. The cast could not be better. Broderick in his debut performance tones it down compared to how annoying he became when he was older. Sutherland is believable as a cop who has feelings for the woman in his life yet still feels he has his duty as a cop. Robards and Mason, who have most of the focus, are also good.

The movie isn't without problems - there are a few spots where the characters seem unusually dim-witted - but overall it's a sweet movie that will make you feel good at the end. Give it a try.

Have you seen "Max Dugan Returns"? I did and I liked it. Even though it is an old movie to me it seems pretty funny. I love funny movies. So I think that if you should see it because I'm sure that you'll like it. I mean, who would not like to see a movie written by Neil Simon?

The movie was interesting most of the time. It was hilarious how Nora McPhee got her cars stolen. Every time that Marsha Mason, who played Nora McPhee, opens her mouth you could say that there is something funny coming. But like all the movies there were some good and bad things. One of them was that I didn't like the way Donald Sutherland, the policeman, was so demanding and always putting so much pressure on Nora McPhee.

There was an honesty problem in the movie. Since Max Dugan, who was played by Jason Robards, came back to his daughter's house he said that he was her father's friend, which it is not true. Another thing is that he said that he was going to stop giving them stuff but he didn't stop and kept buying presents for them.

Jason Robards, a 1999 Kennedy Center Honoree, played Max Dugan in this movie. He did a good job. He performed like if he was doing all that in real life. It was a good performance. He knew how to work the cigar in his mouth. There is nothing I have to complain about except the fact that he did some illegal things to make her daughter and his grandson happy.

Marsha Mason was great. Marsha as Nora ws very funny and the fact that she had bad luck during throughout the movie it makes her to be a better character. She acts like a good, caring and loving mother. Always working hard to survive.

Donald Sutherland came into Nora's life to change everything that could happen in her future. He changes her life in good and bad things. More bad things than good ones. The only good one was that he gave her his love, his very sincere love.

In a score of 1- 10 I give this movie an 8 because it made me laugh and I really would like to see it again. It was pretty good to be an old movie. I usually don't like old movies.

If you haven't seen it I hope that you'll rent it. That's about it, "Max Dugan Returns".

Max Dugan Returns is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I have probably seen it at least 25 times. The development of the relationships between Max and his daughter and grandson are a treasure to watch. Everything keeps turning so quickly. The struggle for Nora and Michael having so little, then here comes Max overwhelming them over and over again with his giving to them. The baseball thing with Charlie Lau is priceless. Nora looking for the motorcycle in the parking lot and then explaining to Michael that she tied the chain. That was Neil Simon writing at its best.

Robards carries this Neil Simon picture delightfully. It moves along with a nice pace and keeps the laughs coming.

How hard it was for a girl when she grew up without her father . She had to deal all of her problems just with the help of her mother . Then she lost her mother again because of cancer .A long time past , a strange old man carrying five million dollars appeared and told Nova he was her father . How would she react ? That was the beginning of the film "Max Dugan Returns "

This play was written by Neil Simon , a famous writer . From this story , he inferred to everybody that love is the most precious gift between people in a family . It also evoked them how to make a happy family . However , it is really funny because of many absurd situations that you can not believe " Max Dugan Returns " had brought to us another view for honesty . People usually like honesty . They are trying to find it in any case . But in this films , lies are better than truth .This opinion was expressed clearly from the character " Max Dugan " . Max Dugan , a complex and funny guy , was played by Jason Robards . He really showed us his talented acting through this character . From time to time , he took us form one interesting lie to another .But in any case , he just wanted to make his daughter happy . He appeared on the film like a mysterious old man . Marsha Mason was Jason Robards ' daughter in this film . She had a lot of problem because of her forgetfulness. Marsha acted like as it was in her real life . She always seemed to be busy and clumsy with her work . She made us feel sorry for her because of her misery One of the big problems that she faced was to chose between her father and her lover , the policeman . He was played by Donald Sutherland . As a robber , her father can be arrested at any time when the policeman discover the truth . The more she hung out with him , the more he suspected about her father . Donald Sutherland was wonderful as a funny gentlemen Another person is also important in this film is Max Dugan's grandchild. He was acted by Matthew Broderick . He has shown us truly about teenager's behaviors . For example , he was really so happy when he found many modern facilities in his room . And many things happening to him were so amazing that he can not believe them "Max Dugan Returns " was really a funny , good film that deserves nine points . The actors and actress played excellently in their own parts . Moreover , it had many ludicrous situations that can make you relax after a long working day .It also reflects the relationship between members in a family ."Max Dugan Returns " was really a wonderful dream to many people. From "Max Dugan Returns" , we learned a lot of things .For example , money can not buy happiness if you do not use it correctly . And do not become a slave of money by working too hard .I think the most important thing that Neil Simon wanted to tell us is " love is for love " , not money. Sometimes , money can not be the most powerful tool in life.