ijonesiii 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.

moonspinner55 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 ****

younme Max Dugan returns was a funny and interesting story written by Neil Simon. I read another play by Neil Simon,"The Good Doctor" I saw Neil Simon story in Collins Hill High School. In our class we read "The Good Doctor" and watched "Max Dugan Returns." "Max Dugan Returns" came out in 1983. It's really an old movie, but it was funny and fantastic. A lot of people in our class like this movie because this was first time we watched a movie in this class. Neil Simon is a good writer,but some of his story is not so funny. Also some of his writing is boring too. Max Dugan was played by Jason Robards. His performance in this movie was great and he make the story more funny. Marsha Mason was the mother in this film. I think Her acting part was the hardest in this story because she has to act as a mother, teacher, and a daughter. I think her performance was the best out of everybody. Donald Sutherland was the policeman. He tried his best in his part. But he didn't make the "Max Dugan Return." story funny. Matthew Broderick was the teenager,also Max Dugan's grand son and Nora Mcphee's son. In this story he really likes to play baseball and he was 15 years old. He makes this story funny and interesting too.If I give this film a score. I'll give a score ten out of ten because it's an old movie still it was funny and fantastic. I really liked this movie and if there was another movie by Neil Simon, I'll watch his film. "Max Dugan Returns" is great movie!

kwooyoung If you watched this movie, then you are going to say, "That is really funny!" When I watched Neil Simon's "Max Dugan Returns," it looked like an old movie. People's hair styles, fashion and cars are all old. My teacher said this movie was made in 1983. This movie is old, but it was really interesting! I read another Neil Simon story "The Good Doctor" before watching this movie. I think Neil Simon's story has many characters. It should separate positives and negatives. I think the positives are love of family. The parent and child, love each other and they take care of other. I think the negatives are luxuries Nora's father has a lot of money. He uses that money for his daughter and grandson, but actually that was luxury. When I watched this movie, I could know about love of family. Max Dugan loves his daughter and his grandson, so he wnats to do anything for them. Nora McPhee loves her father and her son. She worried about her father and she takes cares of her son. Michael McPhee loves his grandfather and his mom He tried to understand what happened to his grandfather and his mom. I think they love each other and take care. Max Dugan is Nora's father and Michael's grandfather. I think he is a good father and grandfather. He used his money for them and he did do anything for his family. It could be positives. But he was in jail for six years and he got that money from a casino. He is good parent and grandparent, but he is a criminal anyways. It could be negatives. Nora McPhee is Michael's mom and Max's daughter. She is a daughter of father and mom of a son, but she is a teacher also. I think she is a good actress because she did do good. She did do good in her role of daughter, mom, and teacher. Brian Costello is a policeman. He loves Nora McPhee. He's supposed to arrest Max Dugan because Brian is a policeman, but loves Nora so he couldn't arrest Max. He is a policeman, but I think he didn't do in his role.Michael McPhee is the son of Nora and grandson of Max. He is a teenager and he goes to high school. I think he is good, but I saw him smoking a cigarette which is a negative habit. I am not an actress, but when he was acting, I think that his acting didn't have emotions. If I give the film a rating, I just want to give 10 points because this was funny and interesting. When I watched the last part, I was sad just a little bit and sometimes I saw bad things. For example, Nora is an English teacher, but sometimes she used bad language like cussing. But when I see the whole story, it is intersting so I could laugh. I like Neil Simon's story. When I read the other Neil Simon story, that was interesting for me.