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Clive Owen, Laura Fraser, Emma Booth, Nicholas McAnulty, George MacKay ... see more see more... , Emma Fraser

Prime Suspect writer Allan Cubitt adapts U.K. sportswriter Simon Carr's autobiographical novel about a successful sports journalist who is suddenly saddled with the responsibility of raising two sons ... read more read more...from different marriages, and whose unusual parenting philosophy "just say yes" brings them closer together than ever before. A quick witted rogue with a talent for covering sports, Joe Warr (Clive Owen) never took life seriously -- until the day his beloved wife died in the blink of an eye. But while Joe is absolutely overwhelmed with grief after losing his spirited soul mate, his six-year-old son, Artie (Nicholas McAnulty), is taking it even harder. Artie can't accept his mother's passing, and his troubling means of expressing his grief are only serving to make a bad situation worse. Suddenly, into the chaos of Joe's and Artie's lives wanders rebellious teenager named Harry (George MacKay). Harry is Joe's son from a previous marriage, and he's come from England to live with his father and stepbrother. Upon realizing that he's neither emotionally prepared nor equipped to take on the responsibility of being a single parent, Joe decides to throw the rules out the window and "just say yes" to every question his sons pose. The result is a household that's full of jubilance and energy, but constantly on the verge of calamity. Somehow, in the midst of all the chaos, something incredible happens -- the bereaved father and his two sons find the courage to move past their grief, and rediscover the joy of living. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

57% liked it

21,244 ratings

Critics

72% liked it

117 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

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Stats: 843 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (843)

  • jjnxn
    January 19, 2012
    jjnxn
    Good acting but slow and dull.
  • Tomassgringo
    June 28, 2011
    Tomassgringo
    You know going into this it will be a sentimental movie - and it is! But sometimes these movies have there place and this one is done in a way that I enjoyed it.
  • hunterjt13
    October 31, 2010
    hunterjt13
    This film would be pure schmaltz without the grounding, tour de force (I don't actually know what this phrase translates to, but I know it means good) performance by Clive Owen. The scene in which he tells his estranged son that his wife is dead and a paroxysm of tears interrupt... read mores the dialogue sealed this as one of Owen's finer performances. Owen keeps the film from flying into Terms of Endearment territory, which was easily possible given the screenplay. The child actors oscillate between being annoying and window dressing, but there's little that can be done in that regard.
    Additionally, I would've liked to see further questioning about Owen's character's parenting theories. There's more there, but the film left so much of this unexplored. Likewise, the relationship between Joe and his mother-in-law could have used more development. He says one of the cruelest things possible: "You can't replace your daughter with my son," and the next scene makes believe everything is all right.
    Regardless, Clive Owen fans have a lot to look forward to when they put this one in the DVD player, almost enough to excuse the film's flaws.
  • itsjustme2004
    October 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    This was a very nicely done, most of the time rather slow moving drama. I seem to like these kind of movies, especially when they leave me all cushy warm feeling inside when it is over. That's this movie in a nutshell. Clive Owen, and those two boys, did some really wonderful act... read moreing in this film.
  • deano
    August 3, 2010
    deano
    The relationship between workaholic Brit expat Joe (Clive Owen) and initially his son Artie (Nicholas McAnulty), and later his older son Harry (George MacKay), is the big beating heart of this emotive drama, which will have you weeping within 15 minutes of its first frame.
    In a m... read moreilestone year for Australian film, The Boys Are Back is arguably the best so far, and is potentially the one that could reach the largest audience. It features an Oscar worthy performance from Owen, whose charm transcends the story's potential bleakness, and turns it into a hopeful one. He was obviously aided by Scott Hicks, whose assured direction - particularly evident in the pacing and his ability to elicit phenomenal performances from the child actors - points to a director at the top of his game.
  • Redlats
    July 24, 2010
    Redlats
    If you like movies about families struggling, you will like this movie. Clive Owen's character, Joe has just lost his wife to cancer, and has a six-year-old son. Joe has his own ideas of what is important in child-rearing.
  • CrookedlittleB33
    June 18, 2010
    CrookedlittleB33
    I actually quite enjoyed this little gem of a film, lots of great perfomances and the chemistry was just so flawless. A heart-warming story, just say yes. Fantastic, really. Wish I could write reviews like I used to.
  • hobster1
    June 14, 2010
    hobster1
    After his wife dies of cancer, a sports writer must confront the responsibilities of single parenthood with his two young sons. Spiritless postcards of a life are presented one after the other. A sample scene: warm sunlight shines down as the kids play and giggle in an outdoor ... read moretub while folksy guitar music underscores the action. Cinematically pretty, but not particularly dramatic or engaging. A glossy and superficial film. The languid pace doesn't really benefit the depressing subject matter. Actor Clive Owen does his best with an honest and heartfelt performance.
  • ythelastman89
    April 8, 2010
    ythelastman89
    While it's not a masterpiece or anything, it's really good for what it is. For a family drama to be touching and not cheesy at the same time is very rare. It's got some really unique elements that make it stand out as well. The landscape of the outback is filmed extremely well an... read mored matches the story's nature. Clive Owen gives a great performance that is different from anything he's ever done before.
  • blacksheepboy
    March 17, 2010
    blacksheepboy
    A deeply moving drama with a great melancholic soundtrack by Sigur Rós and an outstanding performance by Clive Owen, who plays an adorable, witty character whose actions you may not agree with, but this will hardly stop you from empathizing with his honest efforts to raise his so... read morens the way he believes to be the best.

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Critic Reviews

Ruth Hessey
November 12, 2009
Ruth Hessey, MovieTime, ABC Radio National

As the film grapples with the tension between the ideals of parenthood and the realities, the script fumbles some key moments. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
October 14, 2009
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

If The Boys Are Back takes some emotional shortcuts, it still manages to convey some of the more mystifying aspects of parenthood. Full Review

Roger Moore
October 14, 2009
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Owen, not chasing Julia Roberts or anyone else for a change, is pleasant enough making this 100-minute argument for unconventional parenting. Full Review

Tom Long
October 9, 2009
Tom Long, Detroit News

A classy, intelligent, low-key affair and a fine reminder of what's really essential to most lives: family. Full Review

Cary Darling
October 9, 2009
Cary Darling, Dallas Morning News

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 be...

Mick LaSalle
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

Colin Covert
October 8, 2009
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

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

Steven Rea
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

Lisa Kennedy
October 2, 2009
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Clive Owen was spared the role of James Bond. And The Boys are Back is an example of why we are all the better for it. Full Review

J. R. Jones
October 2, 2009
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

A substantial performance from Clive Owen rescues what might otherwise have been a fairly gooey fatherhood drama. Full Review

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The Boys Are Back Trivia

  • in what movie does coach yoast take black and white boys to camp that hate each other and when they come back they are like brothers  Answer »
  • What animal does Neville Longbottom imitate in Harry Potter the Prisioner of Azkaban when the boys of Gryffindor are playing around during they first night back at Hogwarts?  Answer »
  • Back to the Future Part II 1989: Elijah Wood plays one of the two boys in the Cafe 80's who are trying to figure out how to get the ____ ______ arcade game working.   Answer »
  • Drillbit Taylor- Drillbit (Owen Wilson) is giving the boys pointers from the movie they are watching, notably the "hold guy back technique". That movie is?  Answer »
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