Based on the memoirs of Simon Carr, The Boys Are Back is a story of discovery and growth, determination and the road forward. When Australian sportswriter Joe Warr (Clive Owen) suddenly loses his wife to cancer, he is left with the daunting task of raising his young son as a single father. A man used to traveling often, the sudden change leaves him feeling unsure of himself and his abilities as a father. Without much guidance to draw from, Joe adopts the philosophy of "just say yes," leading he and Artie (Nicholas McAnulty) on wild adventures and unfettered living. However, it is quite obvious that the entire scheme is extremely fragile and on the verge of collapse. When Joe's teenage son from a previous marriage comes to live with him, the dynamic is once again cast askew. Joe is left to rebuild a relationship with one son, set an example for both and all the while, determine how best to raise them.

Filmed mainly in rural southern Australia, The Boys Are Back is a wonderful study of the complexities of familial bonds. Clive Owen does a good job conveying the emotions of a man outside of his comfort zone, bereft of the support of his wife and thrashing about, trying not to drown. Joe's mother-in-law, Barbara (Julie Blake), does a fantastic job in a supporting role, at times being overly judgmental, yet clearly trying to cope with the loss of her daughter and remain supportive of her grandson, Artie. George MacKay, playing the part of Harry Warr, quite possibly steals the show, however. His portrayal of a teenage boy who is seeking some form of confirmation from at least one parent is spot-on.

The film opens with a line from Peter Pan describing Neverland. The correlations between that famous story and the story being told are obvious, as Joe and his boys, much like Peter and his lost boys, are searching for some kind of guidance, living a life with few rules, but with no real female influence either. If anything, the director goes out of the way to make this reference clear to the viewer. In the end, The Boys Are Back is a coming of age story, not just of 6 year-old Artie or 14 year-old Harry, but of Joe, as well. The growth and adaptation that come as the family searches for the paths that lie ahead makes for a truly engaging story, one that will certainly tug at the heartstrings of the viewer.

While the DVD only boasts two bonus features, they are good features. The first is an on-set featurette showing how author Simon Carr and his real-life sons interacted with the actors portraying them in the film. The second feature is a 16 minute photo montage featuring stills from the movie and from on-set. It can be viewed with directory commentary or simply with music from the film (which I recommend). Speaking of music from the film, there are several beautiful songs on the soundtrack. One of these, entitled Harry's Tune, is being played by Harry during one of the film's scenes. When asked about it by Joe, Harry replies that it is "just a little tune I wrote." It turns out that it is exactly that, as the song credits George MacKay as the composer. The Boys Are Back is a very heartwarming film, well worth the time to watch. If nothing else, it makes the viewer appreciate just how quickly our lives can be turned on edge and causes one to ponder how we would handle a similar situation.

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