Ben Is Back is about a 19-year-old opioid addict who leaves rehab for 24 hours to make a surprise visit to his family on Christmas Eve. The film starring Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) is intense.  It is not for the faint of heart.

I went to see a preview of the film hosted by The Moms (Denise Albert and Melissa Musen Gerstein). The event highlighted the good work done by Brian McAlister and Freedom 365.  Freedom 365 is a Virtual Recovery System that offers those in need a full year of virtual addiction rehabilitation.  More details on this wonderful program are available –> HERE <–

The Film Review:

Writer-director Peter Hedges (his son is Lucas Hedges) has nailed the toll that drug addiction takes on a family.  I wanted to shake Julia Roberts and snap her out of her naiveté. It is heartbreaking to see the effect that Ben’s addiction has on his younger sister Ivy (Kathryn Newton). She does not trust Ben and pairs up with her step father Neal to try to soften the inevitable emotional toll on her mother. At first, Ivy comes across as a bitch. However it does not take long to realize that she refuses to helplessly watch her mother get hurt again.

Ben is Back official poster

Half way through the film the entire audience was on the edge of their seats.  If an audience member wasn’t biting their nails they were wincing in anticipation. Maybe it was because the majority of the audience were Moms.  We could relate to Julia Roberts’ Holly so much!  Holly is thrilled to have her eldest child back for Christmas although deep down she knows he is a fire keg waiting to explode.  As a result, Holly  is trying to maintain a happy persona for the rest of her family.  Moms have all been there!  Trying to make everything perfect for everyone while sacrificing their own sanity. I personally watched the entire second half of the film with my hands over my mouth because I was waiting for the other shoe drop as they say.

The Performances:

The performances are strong and resonating.  I would have liked to see more of Rachel Bay Jones’ (Dear Evan Hanson) Beth.  She does not have a ton of screen time for my liking but her character is strong, sympathetic and absolutely heart breaking.  Two of Julia Robert’s best scenes in the film are with Ms. Jones. I’d be surprised if Julia Roberts does not get an Oscar nomination. She was raw and believable.  The cemetery scene which will leave you wondering how any mother manages to cope with their child’s addiction.

The Event:

Rachel Bay Jones was the special guest at the Mamarazzi event.  Ms. Jones was gracious  in spending her time with us. She spoke about her experiences filming Ben is Back and with Dear Evan Hanson. She told of her experience working with Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges.  Most notably she spoke of her past struggles with substance abuse and how she talks to her teenage daughter about avoiding the same pitfalls.

The Verdict:

Ben Is Back is an excellent portrayal of the effects of addiction on a family.  It is not for the faint of heart.  Bring the tissues especially if you have children or have seen a loved one face addiction.  I have and this movie hit my heart hard. Ben Is Back, written and directed by Peter Hedges (The Odd Life of Timothy Green, About a Boy.) was released on December 7, 2018.