Ben Is Back
Film
Review by Kam Williams
Holly
(Julia
Roberts) and Neal (Courtney B. Vance) are raising a family in a
quaint country home in upstate New York ostensibly far removed from
the sort of woes which plague the inner city. It's Christmas Eve, and
we meet Holly in church where she's patiently watching three of her
four kids practicing for the Christmas pageant.
However, looks can be deceiving, since missing from the idyllic
picture is her eldest child, Ben (Lucas Hedges). For, the troubled 19
year-old has been living at a drug rehab center where he's managed to
keep clean for the past 77 days.
But
Ben has left the facility without permission to be with the folks
over the holidays. And the trouble starts when he breaks into the
house when nobody's there upon his arrival.
Understandably,
Holly and Neal have different reactions to Ben's return. She naively
welcomes her Prodigal Son with open arms. Meanwhile, his
African-American stepdad is very skeptical about allowing the addict
to stay, pointing out that, if he were black, he'd probably be in
prison rather than a halfway house.
Neal's
not only concerned about the prospect of Ben using again, but about
the welfare of Lacey (Mia Fowler) and Liam (Jakari Fraser), his
impressionable, young offspring with Holly. By contrast, teenage
stepdaughter Ivy (Kathryn Newton) is well aware of Ben's tendency to
relapse, and is dead set against an impromptu reunion.
Unfortunately,
headstrong Holly gets the final say. Against her better judgment and
Ben's own warning that he can't be trusted, she agrees to a one-day
visit. What ensues is a harrowing 24-hour nightmare the gullible mom
will come to regret.
Thus
unfolds Ben Is Back, a timely cautionary tale written and directed by
Peter Hedges (Pieces of April). It stars his son Lucas in the title
role opposite Julia Roberts who proves quite convincing as a mom in
denial who becomes increasingly frazzled over the course of the
misadventure.
As
chilling a depiction of the suburban opioid epidemic as you are apt
to find onscreen.
Very
Good (3 stars)
Rated R
for drug use and pervasive profanity
Running
time: 103 minutes
Production
Studio: Black Bear Pictures / 30 West / Color Force
Studio:
LD Entertainment / Roadside
Attractions / Lionsgate
To
see a trailer for Ben Is Back, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI9NdYktzfE
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