The Boys Are Back

Name: The Boys Are Back
Genre: Drama
Released: September 25, 2009
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 57

2009

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Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: September 25, 2009 | PG-13

Summary: Inspired by a true story, The Boys Are Back is a deeply moving, wryly confessional tale of fatherhood, that intimately evokes both the fragility and wonders of family life. It follows a witty, wisecracking, action-oriented sportswriter who, in the wake of his wife’s tragic death, finds himself in a sudden, stultifying state of singleInspired by a true story, The Boys Are Back is a deeply moving, wryly confessional tale of fatherhood, that intimately evokes both the fragility and wonders of family life. It follows a witty, wisecracking, action-oriented sportswriter who, in the wake of his wife’s tragic death, finds himself in a sudden, stultifying state of single parenthood. With turbulent emotions swirling just below the surface, Joe Warr throws himself into the only child-rearing philosophy he thinks has a shot at bringing joy
back into their lives: “just say yes.” Raising two boys – a curious six year-old and a rebel teen from a previous marriage -- in a household devoid of feminine influence, and with an unabashed lack of rules, life becomes exuberant, instinctual, reckless and on the constant verge of disaster. United by unspoken love, conflicted by fierce feelings and in search of a road forward, the three multi-generational
boys of the Warr household, father and sons alike, must each find their own way, however tenuous, to grow up. Their story is not just about the transforming power of a family crisis -- but the unavoidable grace of everyday life and love that gets them through. (Miramax)… Expand

Director: Scott Hicks

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

Claudia Puig

In less capable hands, the movie could have been maudlin. Instead, Hicks and Owen have created an intimate drama told with humor and emotion. Read full review

Steven Rea

Relationships - between men and women, fathers and sons - are more complicated in real life, and The Boys Are Back deftly acknowledges that fact. Read full review

Peter Travers

Owen, in a heartfelt, award-caliber performance, never goes soft. It's his core of toughness that makes the movie so funny, touching and vital. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Clive Owen can be a likable actor, but the character is working against him...And please, please, give us a break from the scenes where the ghost of the departed turns up and starts talking as if she's not dead. Read full review

Mark Jenkins

The effect is weirdly lulling. Viewers with a special connection to this story, or a weakness for little boys and single dads, may find The Boys Are Back moving. For everyone else, the movie is merely picturesque. Read full review

Brian Miller

Carr's original anecdotes don't supply much storyline, so Hicks spans the gaps with golden-lit montages set to Sigur Rós. They're a great advertisement for Australian vacations. And vasectomies. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Owen is a magnetic, sensitive presence at the center of a movie that doesn't deserve him and that barely deserves to be seen. Read full review

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User Reviews

KerrynS

Nov 14, 2009

Fantastic, thought provoking, real story, with breathtaking scenery.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Allan

Oct 8, 2009

Mostly both moving and fun. The movie makes clear that Owen's character doesn't get it all right: he's a bit of a kid himself. But his "just say yes" is a good antidote to the overprotective, overscheduled childhood that the movie's American critics espouse. (I raised 4 Mostly both moving and fun. The movie makes clear that Owen's character doesn't get it all right: he's a bit of a kid himself. But his "just say yes" is a good antidote to the overprotective, overscheduled childhood that the movie's American critics espouse. (I raised 4 boys. I was also firmly told "no" when I wanted to put playground equipment outside some apartments I own.) The kid on the hood is a dumb thing to do; but the bathtub superhero is great, especially watching Owen at first think "I can't allow that!" and then "but why not?" The movie raises this as an issue to think about; and the critics seem unable to do so.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Marco

Oct 3, 2009

Beautiful cinematography, engaging story, and fine acting. I found it not at all "weepy" or maudlin. On the contrary, the narrative was entirely plausible and admirably understated.

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KarinaM

Nov 4, 2009

Beautifully filmed, perfectly acted, well scripted. I see what some reviewers mean about the stock scenes and the ghost of Joe's wife, but the film was really about the relationships among the various males, which were portrayed with sensitivity and reality. I also liked it that Joe Beautifully filmed, perfectly acted, well scripted. I see what some reviewers mean about the stock scenes and the ghost of Joe's wife, but the film was really about the relationships among the various males, which were portrayed with sensitivity and reality. I also liked it that Joe didn't end up in bed with the other 'female interest'.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

smiyamot

Jan 7, 2016

A nicely done movie about a hard subject, parenting a child with mental problems. Of course, they live out in the country so the kid "can" run wild. If they lived in the city, it wouldn't be possible. Just to make it harder, he has a teenage son by a previous marriage who wants to comeA nicely done movie about a hard subject, parenting a child with mental problems. Of course, they live out in the country so the kid "can" run wild. If they lived in the city, it wouldn't be possible. Just to make it harder, he has a teenage son by a previous marriage who wants to come live with him. Wow, the worst of both worlds. How the three of them work it out is what makes the movie enjoyable to watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Neonite

Jun 15, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was really looking forward to this movie. I thought it would be a refreshingly intelligent, progressive and emotionally real depiction of single fatherhood. It was almost. I think unfortunately the Australian film industry gets in the way of itself in terms of a genuine, un-cliched human story. The kind of human realism and emotional depth required to really engage the viewer tend to be outshone by the persistent pandering to our own cliched ideals about men, women and the picturesque landscapes we inhabit. I guess the AF industry isn't big or mature enough yet to include those self-obsessed 'Aussie culture' films - with a whole bunch of other movies that transcend them emotionally and conceptually, and really speak to people as a whole [including Australians]. Although this movie is really quite beautifully produced and includes an evocative soundtrack that communicates much of the emotion, the great moments are still weighed down by almost embarrassing unsophistication in terms of male-female relationships and confused gender hostility typically found in Australian movies. Apparently we don't understand love, we don't like real human connections, in fact we don't like men and women appearing to get along or relate whatsoever. We like them to be angry aliens on each other's planet. Otherwise it interfers with our entrenched lazy ideals about who we are and who we are not, that save us from any real emotional development that might one day be reflected in our films and put us on par with other countries. The movie starts with a gratingly ridiculous and base couple banter, followed by a very moving and well edited treatment of death in a family, and yet the movie innapropriately raps up with a faintly victorious declaration that the three 'boys' have managed to succeed in living without women, including their recently dead one. Although based on a memoir, this is still a story snapped up wittingly or otherwise for being about a loveable incompetent male and the irritating competent females who orbit around him, and they all don't get each other and they all fight a lot and yet utterly accept it as their natural lot in life. Yaaaawn. And in true urban spirit, they'll all live self-righteously ever after.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JulieD

Nov 4, 2009

Boring - felt like slapping the child - thought there was something wrong with all of them. Yet another failure for Australia in making movies.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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