Ben is back is a story of a mother and her son, who is drug addict and had been in rehabilitation centre, and then he suddenly came back one day. His mother is trying to help him. It is an American drama film released in 2018.
Ben is in a rehab. But just before Christmas, he suddenly appears at his mother Holly's door. He thinks it's great that he is back and hopes it can be a fun Christmas party. But Neal, Ben's stepfather, and his sister Ivy don't agree with him as Ben also spoiled the party last year. But he swears he can handle it now, he is clean and can control himself. He just doesn't have any neat clothes with him. Mother and son go to the shopping mall and it turns out that Ben is not nearly forgotten by everyone. Also not because of old drug friends and the temptations lurk for Ben, he does his utmost to leave the past behind, but does his past leave him alone?
Seeing your drug addicted son in front of your house on Christmas Eve will give mixed feelings to the average mother. However, Ben's mother was utterly happy seeing her son back. For the rest of the family it mainly raises question marks. Memories of other years cause a feeling of fear. Ben has already done this trick before and it went completely wrong. Why should things go better this year? Because Ben says so ? These were the doubts in the minds of the family members.
Ben is Back is the type of film where the end result stands or falls with how credible and convincing the characters are. And with regard to Julia Roberts as the mother and Lucas Hedges - son of director Peter Hedges - as Ben, that is fine. The two play strong roles, which still holds the film. Because after a great and interesting start, the story becomes quite predictable and the rest of the characters are mainly caricatures. Fortunately, a large part of the screen time is taken by the two aforementioned top actors and that results in an interesting character study. Ben is manipulative. He wants to convince his mother that he is drug free. Mother gives him the benefit of doubt. But the doubt is getting bigger. What starts as a promising drama then ends in a fairly standard thriller with predictable outcome. Halfway through the film the structure of the film changes. When Ben returns to old acquaintances, the tension is intensified and the drama element is served. It is the scenes in the first part of the film that make an impression. Not only the mutual conversations, but also the non-verbal behavior is significant. Ben in particular knows how to make much clear by saying nothing. In the second part of the film, the two are separated from each other and that immediately ensures that the dynamics disappear from the film.
Ben Is Back starts nuanced, but unfortunately doesn't last until the end. Yet it is worth seeing the strong play of Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges.
I will give it a 3 out of 5.
