It is a shame that the family depicted in this film is so well off. If they had been more urban and struggling with more complex issues, it could have been a better film. It does allude to how poor people cannot afford the rehab this family can. On the other hand, it shows that drug addiction can reach anyone, even the middle class. I am not a Julia Roberts fan but she is great here as a mother whose estranged drug addicted son Ben returns to her happy home just before Christmas, causing utter chaos. There are so many very believable issues to explore, about the limits of trust and love, and as Ben, Lucas Hedges is great. If anything his character is a little understated and reserved. The frigid New England winter is a great metaphor for the harsh emotional territory. The night mother and son go looking for the dog is quite suspenseful. I do not think there was a doubt about how the film would turn out, but it is a very watchable journey.
Review of Ben Is Back
