The problem is that the movie always takes the easy way, scattering a few heavy, confrontational scenes among acres of picturesque montages.
Comment
09/25/09
The Boys Are Back (2009)
72
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:81
Fresh:58
Rotten:23
Average Rating:6.4/10
Consensus: Great performances by Clive Owen and The Boys save this melodrama from entering into the sappy territory it might have in less competent hands.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating]
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Sep 25, 2009 Limited
Box Office: $783,013
Synopsis: 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,... [More]
Starring: Clive Owen, Laura Fraser, Nicholas Macanulty, Julia Blake
Director: Scott Hicks
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Reviews for The Boys Are Back
Top CriticSo ravishing [looking], actually, that it severely diminishes the emotional beats of the narrative. How mopey can you be when you've got wallabies on your veranda?
10/01/09
Bland, uneventful and going in circles for most of its second half, The Boys are Back never really gets to the point.
10/01/09
A hairs-breadth thumbs down; Owen's trademark tousled charm carries stretches of too-loose widower's tale The Boys Are Back, but otherwise overly familiar dramatic plotting elicits lukewarm positive feelings at best.
09/24/09
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.
09/23/09
Where's Thin Lizzy when you need them?
09/24/09
There's nothing terribly wrong with this leisurely paced chronicle of a single father's struggles parenting his two sons, but there's nothing terribly right with it, either.
09/18/09
Top CriticMight just put you off ever having children, if you don't already.
10/15/09
Owen brings insight and honesty to this otherwise by-the-numbers adaptation of Simon Carr’s memoir, which director Scott Hicks bathes in shimmering golden tones as if the characters lived at the end of the rainbow.
09/23/09
The film plods along unremarkably -- even Joe’s unorthodox rearing techniques lose their surprise factor after a while -- but does remain true to itself right to the bitter(sweet) end.
11/11/09
The tears will definitely trickle from your eyes. It’s distinguishing the trickle from the treacle that becomes the problem.
10/02/09
Much like its lead character, the film lacks the discipline to always do what's best.
10/09/09
Neither takes chances with the process of pain nor uncovers any big lessons about losing a spouse or raising a family.
10/01/09
I didn’t think there was a minute of truth in this thing.
09/28/09
Top CriticThe 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?
10/09/09
Top CriticThe Boys are bound to seem a rather boring bunch, which makes it hard for Scott Hicks' downbeat heart-tugger to resonate in any meaningful way.
10/23/09
In spite of the fine lead performance, Back is a grey, unedifying slog from grief and hopelessness to parental semi-competence.
09/25/09
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?
10/01/09
Top CriticAs the film grapples with the tension between the ideals of parenthood and the realities, the script fumbles some key moments.
11/12/09
...reduces the complexities of human relationships to a series of aphorisms and sitcom-like scenes, each of which is carefully designed to teach a lesson or establish a plot point.
10/09/09
Latest News for The Boys Are Back
November 09, 2009:
Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
RT talks to director Scott Hicks as his latest film, 'The Boys Are Back', starring Clive Owen, opens in Australian cinemas. More...
September 24, 2009:
Critics Consensus: Surrogates Is A Passable Thriller
This week at the movies, we've got robot clones (Surrogates, starring Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell), artistic-minded freshmen (Fame, starring Kelsey Grammer and Megan... More...
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade 
Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.
40 Worst Films of the 2000s
Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.
10 Questions For Zac Efron
The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.
Best Decade Ever!
Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds