BEN IS BACK

US, 2018, 103 minutes, Colour.
Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B.Vance, Kathryn Newton, Rachel Bay Jones, David Zaldivar, Michael Esper.
Directed by Peter Hedges.

Ben is Back takes place over 24 hours, Christmas Eve into Christmas morning, the background family involved in the Nativity play at the local church, rehearsals and performance, but this being just an emotional background to a much more emotional experience.

Ben, played effectively by Lucas Hedges (continuing a successful career from Manchester by the Sea, Three Billboards, Boy Erased and here directed by his writer-director father, Peter Hedges), suddenly returns to see his family for Christmas. His mother, Holly, is delighted, sweetness and light in the Julia Roberts style, huge grins and laughter. However, it is the opposite with his younger sister, Ivy (Kathryn Newton) who is very wary of his arrival. There are two younger children from Holly’s second marriage to a businessman, Neal (Courtney B.Vance).

What is the trouble?

Ben has been in drug rehabilitation, an addict from his early teens, involved in dealing and the death of a close friend. Ben states that he has the support of his sponsor to visit his family for Christmas, assures them that he is being off any drugs for 77 days, that he wants to be with them. Neal, who has been paying the fees for his stepson’s rehabilitation, is very firm in dealing with him. Ivy is reluctant but the younger children are delighted with his presence. Holly, realising the seriousness of the situation but delighted to have her son back, starts to take more serious stances (and, by the end of the film, is desperately loving but seems to have taken strong influence and language from her performance and is Erin Brockovich!).

The action takes place over only 24 hours. There are some very happy scenes, especially in the young children’s rehearsals for a Nativity play in the local church in the family going to see the performance. Ben goes shopping with his mother for gifts for the children.

However, the family are tense – which means that we, the audience, are increasingly tense as to whether Ben will take more drugs (but there is an engaging and moving sequence where he goes to a group meeting and talks frankly about himself, Holly being very proud of him). And there is always the problem of the truth, whether he has his sponsor’s approval for the visit on not, what are his contacts in the town.

In fact, the plot becomes more desperate as it continues – the family returning home from the Nativity play to find their beloved pet dog missing. This leads to a dramatic search, Holly becoming more desperate as they look for the dog, Ben making contacts because he knows who took the dog – and risking the consequences.

The film is effective in its drama, it involving its audience in the seriousness of the problems. Those who have seen the film which is similar in theme, Beautiful Boy, with Steve Carrell and Timothee Chalamet, will be on familiar ground. Interestingly, these are two films which are geared towards middle American families, that statistics reminds us that more Americans die from opioid overdoses then car crashes, that drugs are not problems of the ghettos or particular ethnic groups, but the addicts and challenges in their ordinary suburbs.

And, as with Beautiful Boy, the point is made that, despite the good intentions of parents, their earnestness in trying to help their children, the seeming helplessness, that ultimately, it depends on the antics decision as to whether they can be helped or not. Beautiful cowboy was based on memoirs by father and son. Ben is Back leaves the audience with uncertainties.

1. A film about drugs and addiction? Teenagers? Parents and coping? Rehabilitation, relapse?

2. The ordinary American town, homes, church, the streets, pawnshops, drug areas near the river, drug dealing headquarters? Authentic feel? The musical score?

3. The drama with the action taking place over 24 hours?

4. This kind of film for middle America, middle class families and children with addictions, rehabilitation, coping, the importance of the addict making the decision and being able to be helped?

5. The family, Holly, her first marriage, Ben and Ivy as her children, bringing up Ben, his accident, the medication, too much, leading to addiction? The powerful scene in the mall, with Holly confronting the doctor and his wife, the doctor with dementia, her attack on him because of his overprescribing? Ivy, at home? Holly’s second marriage, a relationship with Neal, the two young children and her love for them? The household? Preparing to celebrate Christmas? The rehearsal for the Christmas play, at the church, the children participating? Holly encouraging them?

6. Ben, his age, in rehabilitation, his sudden return, Holly’s response, Ivy and her wanting to call the authorities, the two children? Neal, severe? The fact that he had financed Ben’s rehabilitation? His expectations, demands?

7. Ben wanting to be home for Christmas, his explanations? His manner, seeming to be a gentleman, deferring to his family? His saying he had permission from his sponsor? Clean for 77 days?

8. The later revelation of how many lies he told, the sponsor trying to dissuade him, his finding the drugs in the attic, the pressure on him, but his wanting to be home for Christmas?

9. Holly, her strict demands, her move from sweetness and light to severity with her son? The speeches, his agreeing? His wanting to buy presents for the children, his own personal gifts? In the mall, his friend seeing him, spreading the word that he was back in town?

10. Holly accompanying him to the meeting, his speech, the response, her pride? The memories of Maggie, Ben’s contact with her, getting hooked, her death, the grief of her mother? His sense of guilt?

11. The scenes at home, meals, play with children, searching the Attic with ivy?

12. Ben sensing the threats, but going to the church, the celebration of the Nativity play?

13. The return home, the ransack, the disappearance of the dog and all that it meant to the family?

14. Ben, deciding to search for the dog, making the contact, threatening his friend and blaming him for everybody knowing? Working out who talk the dog? Going to see the drug dealer, Ben and his dealing, his agreeing to carry the drugs to get the dog back? His success with the mission, getting the dog?

15. The mother of the girl who died, the talk in the church with Holly? Holly becoming desperate, going to see the woman, borrowing the car, searching for Ben? Going to the pawn shop, the old woman talking about the addicts at the river, her going there? The threats?

16. The phone calls, lying to Neal, her continued search, growing desperation?

17. Her going to the police, initiating the search? Desperate, saying that Ben had stolen her car?

18. Ben, his desperation, putting the dog in the car, the dilemma about taking the drugs, in his hand? His having told the truth to his mother?
Taking the drug?

19. Holly finding her son, holding him, willing him back to life – and the film with an uncertain ending, the impact for the audience?