Author: Peter Debruge / Source: Variety
Seventy-seven days. That’s how long Ben Burns (“Manchester by the Sea” discovery Lucas Hedges) has been clean when he shows up at his family’s house for Christmas. Judging by the look on Julia Roberts’ face — a tangle of delight, concern, fear, and forgiveness that’s simultaneously universal and something only this one living actress could convey so well — his return is the best present any mother could hope for.
As for the rest of the family, they’re not so sure. Ben has a nasty habit of relapsing and ruining the holidays, and anything could happen in the next 24 hours.“Ben Is Back” is the story of one day in the lives of the Burnses, during which this prodigal son will test the love of everyone who cares about him — and remind audiences everywhere why world-class empathy generator Roberts is what writer-director Peter Hedges described as “the mother of mothers” at the film’s Toronto Film Festival premiere. And yes, before you ask: Hedges, the family-minded “Pieces of April” helmer, is Lucas’ real-life dad, creating a part that showcases the talented 21-year-old’s abilities as well. Frankly, the entire film is that rarest of gifts for its cast, providing virtually every character with a chance to play not only the present moment, but the complicated history they’ve established with Ben in the past, as well as whatever chance they see in the troubled young man’s future.
Nearly all of Ben’s old acquaintances have given up on him. “If he were black, he’d be in jail by now,” snaps his stepfather Neal (Courtney B. Vance), who’s the tough-love kind of parent whose pragmatic approach to Ben’s addiction is what’s paying for his rehab — where Ben should be, rather than surprising his family in their suburban driveway on Christmas Eve. Holly (Roberts) can’t argue with that, though she’s too much the optimist to face the truth no parent wants to confront: Chances are alarmingly high that some day, she’s going to get the phone call telling her that Ben is dead (a chilling idea that drives not only this film, but also Kent Jones’ Tribeca-winning treasure “Diane,” which stars Mary Kay Place as a mother facing similar concerns over her drug-addict son).
Instead of sending Ben back to his program, Holly firmly announces that he is allowed to stay one night, for Christmas, but he is never to leave her sight — rules she…
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