It's the two boys, young George Mackay and younger Nicholas McAnulty who walk away with the acting honours in astonishingly mature and controlled performances
Comment
11/05/09
Rate this Movie 
The Boys Are Back (2009)
71
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work
Reviews Counted:73
Fresh:52
Rotten:21
Average Rating:6.3/10
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
Reviews for The Boys Are Back
It's about emotional chaos and who better to embody it than Clive Owen as the soulful widower trying to master being an everyday father. It feels like a work of love for Hicks, who injects serenity within the chaos as he conducts a mantle of melancholy
11/05/09
Joe says in a voice-over that "life is a journey to be traveled no matter how bad the road." And The Boys Are Back is a highly satisfying ride.
10/31/09
An affecting blend of warm comedy and high pathos, The Boys Are Back brings an unusual all-male perspective to its otherwise familiar themes of domesticity, death and dysfunction.
10/30/09
Even a corrosive influence like yours truly finds something a bit hinky about the motto 'Just Say Yes.' At least when applied to raising children.
10/27/09
The 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
. . . presents some inevitable clichés from the grief-dealing playbook, but also tosses in the occasional change of pace zinger to keep the film from drowning in sorrow.
10/22/09
Parental Content Review
10/15/09
When the film works, it works really well. It certainly doesn't hurt that it features Owen, an actor who's capable of making almost anything watchable.
10/15/09
Might just put you off ever having children, if you don't already.
10/15/09
It has the same understanding of male emotions as a Nick Hornby bestseller and could be that rare warmhearted weepie with an appeal that spans the genders and generations.
10/14/09
If The Boys Are Back takes some emotional shortcuts, it still manages to convey some of the more mystifying aspects of parenthood.
10/14/09
Top CriticOwen, not chasing Julia Roberts or anyone else for a change, is pleasant enough making this 100-minute argument for unconventional parenting.
10/14/09
This indie gem marks the arrival of Oscar season. McAnulty and Mackay give very natural performances that are real and genuine.
10/10/09
Much like its lead character, the film lacks the discipline to always do what's best.
10/09/09
Hicks' rambling pacing and Cubitt's routine approach to the story prevent 'The Boys Are Back' from reaching its potential.
10/09/09
A classy, intelligent, low-key affair and a fine reminder of what's really essential to most lives: family.
10/09/09
Top Critic... flirts dangerously around the outskirts of melodrama.
10/09/09
The Boys Are Back is a poignant and rowdy celebration of a broken family dealing with grief and drastic change. It has a lame title and a rambling story, but it also has an outstanding performance by Clive Owen and beautiful Australian scenery.
10/09/09
It manages to veer from touching to humorous (Warr has some rather unconventional parenting techniques) without being overly mawkish, and the sumptuous cinematography by Greig Fraser is perhaps the best commercial ever for South Australia.
10/09/09
Top CriticLatest News for The Boys Are Back
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
Worst Movie Biopics 
Moviefone brings us 9 failed attempts at biographical films.
Top Cameron Crowe Moments
TIME reminisces on the 10 most iconic moments from the films of Cameron Crowe.
November Films
BuzzSugar wants to know which movies coming out this month you're most looking forward to.
The New Cult Canon
The AV Club takes a look back at Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
IGN RSS Feeds