Review of The Boys Are Back (2009) by Walter M — 05 Jan 2011

In "The Boys Are Back," Joe Warr(Clive Owen) is a successful sportswriter living in rural Australia and constantly traveling elsewhere for his job. Tragedy strikes when his wife Katy(Laura Fraser) collapses at a party and is diagnosed with late stage cancer. Her death leaves an emotional chasm in the household as Joe valiantly tries to take over care of their young son Artie(Nicholas McAnulty) singlehandledly. That along with depression threatens to drive him to drink. Then, Harry(George MacKay), his son from his first marriage, wants to pay a visit.

While not exactly saying anything new, "The Boys Are Back"(inspired by a true story) is at least partially redeemed by an excellent performance from Clive Owen and beautiful Australian scenery. That's not to mention the subtlety and thoughtfulness in telling such a story. In all honesty, the movie does basically come down to a referendum on child rearing, either strict or lax.(I'm all for being gentle and leaving kids to their own devices, but have to draw the line at riding on the roof of the car, even if it is at the beach.) Speaking of which, the movie inaccurately uses Peter Pan as a reference point concerning Joe. It is not that he never grew up. It's just that he never had a proper childhood(There is also a cliched dichotomy on display between stuffy England and free spirited Australia.) and desperately wants his sons to have one, even as he has to move on from being an absentee father.