Review: The Boys are Back

Clive Owen is probably best known for his roles either shooting people (Sin City, Shoot 'Em Up, The International, The Bourne Identity) or brandishing swords (King Arthur). But he has also demonstrated range in such films as Gosford Park, Closer and Children of Men and in The Boys are Back he probably shows us his softest side yet. Owen's cocky sports journalist is widowed during the film and has to quickly learn how to look after a house and his young son. He is then joined by his older son from his first marriage and things become even more complicated. This is essentially a family drama with Owen giving it his all trying to be a 'fun dad' but also set boundaries.

Owen tries his best in the role, at parts he seems a little creepy especially when he constantly calls the boys 'sweetheart'. Meanwhile the child actors veer just the right side of annoying the older boy being particularly impressive in the latter scenes of the film. Another massive character is Australia itself and its surprising that the Australian tourist board didnt' have anything to do with the film from the first scene in which Owen is cruising down the beach we are clear of our setting and later scenes involving a road trip show us more of what Oz has to offer. The film is good in side-stepping a new romantic liaison for Owen instead focusing purely on his role as a father but the narrative device of the ghost of his dead wife giving him advice seems corny even though it does enable the underused Laura Fraser to appear in a few more scenes.

Ultimately Shine director Scott Hicks' film just seems a little light. There's nothing particularly awful about it but nothing that really sticks in the mind either. Good for a watch if there's nothing else on but it's never going to be up there with the director's previous work.