Clive Owen, Emma Booth, Erik Thomson

A sports writer becomes a single parent in tragic circumstances.

Flixster Users

76% liked it

1,761 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

80 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Scott Hicks

Release Date: September 25, 2009

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DVD Release Date: January 26, 2010

Stats: 126 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (126)


  • November 23, 2009
    The Boys Are Back is based on the memoir by Simon Carr, who found himself raising two young sons singlehandedly, and occasionally making a complete hash of it.

    Sportswriter Joe Warr (Owen) would appear to be living the ideal life: he and his second wife Katy (Fraser) are the p...( read more)arents of a young son, Artie (McAnulty), and while Joe's job keeps him away from home a fair bit he's still a loving husband and father.

    But when Katy dies, Joe is left feeling adrift--he's mourning the loss of his wife while coming to grips with his new duties as a single-parent, a job he's not all that sure how to perform. And just as he's finding his feet as a father, he's visited by Harry (MacKay), his teen-age son from his first marriage. And it becomes clear that if the boys are ever going to become men, Joe, the father is going to have to grow up as well.

    A surface reading of The Boys Are Back could give the impression it's a sickly-sweet story of personal growth or, even worse, a tacky tale of Peter Pan who learns to straighten up and fly right for the sake of the kids.

    Yet Shine director Scott Hicks handles this delicate- adaptation of Carr's memoir, capturing the turbulent rush of emotions that overcome Joe, as he doesn't excuse Joe's mistakes but sensitively convey his main character's state of mind. And it doesn't hurt that Owen's understated and perhaps 'truthful' performance gives the audience just as much insight to Joe's sadness, frustration, hope and joy as he embarks on his new life as a family man.
  • December 3, 2009
    A very australian movie. It is slow, but the beautiful scenery, acting and cast were mesmerising and gorgeous. Although parts were very unbelevable, the main relationships were well developed and realistic, and all the motion was not over the top, but true to life. Loved it much....( read more) So glad to see another movie that makes australia proud
  • November 24, 2009
    I so wish there was more of a push for people to see this film!
    Clive is wonderful.
    Nicholas McAnulty and George MacKay are stunning on screen.
    Wonderful 2nd coming of age film. A must see for male actors looking to tackle lead roles with drama.
  • November 22, 2009
    Very moving picture. It was hard to deal with the relaxed parenting but.
  • November 2, 2009
    I didn't know anything about this movie when i went to see it other than that Clive Owen was in it. I thought that was a good sign. I was surprised to see it set in Australia. The movie is rather slow moving, and nothing ever really happens. I felt as thought sometimes they we...( read more)re trying to get emotional, but i wasn't feeling it.
  • October 15, 2009
    Clive Owen! ^_______________^
  • September 11, 2009
    It looks good from the trailer, and Clive Owen is always dependable. Worth a rental I'm sure.
  • September 9, 2009
    there is to much gay sex its all about mathew smith
  • September 6, 2009
    very good for fathers..

Critic Reviews


October 9, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The Boys Are Back is based on a true story, and not in a good way. It's obviously true; otherwise why would anyone think it's worth telling a story so trivial? full review

October 8, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Has there been a better film about single fatherhood than The Boys Are Back? None that I recall. full review

October 8, 2009
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

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

October 1, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

You may well cry -- I did -- at The Boys Are Back, but Hicks doesn't use hammers or harp strings; the emotion is honest and earned. full review

October 1, 2009
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

All told, the movie's a solid entry in the Bad Dad Gets It Together genre and Owen is really quite touching, especially when he's not trying too hard, which is most of the time. full review

October 1, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The film seems to regard Joe with affection, and Owen certainly portrays him as a nice man. But why are his unformed theories about bringing up Artie supposed to fill us with affection and sentiment? full review

September 25, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

On the tougher side are Allan Cubitt's script, which is good-natured but doesn't idealize any character, and the prickly honesty of Owen's performance. full review

September 25, 2009
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

The problem is that the movie always takes the easy way, scattering a few heavy, confrontational scenes among acres of picturesque montages. full review

September 25, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

This lovely and emotionally resonant film about a family shattered by grief deserves better than a forgettably glib title that conjures up images of beer brawls or gangster affiliations. full review

September 18, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

OK, it sounds like a tear-jerker, and sometimes it drifts dangerously close. But Owen, in a heartfelt, award-caliber performance, never goes soft. It's his core of toughness that makes the movie so fu... full review

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