Ben Is Back
Too many years have passed since
Julia Roberts showcased her empathetic talents in the right big-screen project. The streak ends with this stirring drama, which takes place in 24 hours. Her Holly Burns is relieved yet terrified when her son Ben (Lucas Hedges) unexpectedly arrives home from rehab to spend Christmas with the family. She goes to desperate lengths to stand up for her troubled child; he tries valiantly to stay clean. Their delicate dynamic early on is so fascinating that it’s almost a disappointment when they must embark on a frigid odyssey through their suburban neighborhood. Like an anti-It’s a Wonderful Life,
Holly learns how Ben’s addiction and side hustle have negatively affected seemingly anyone he’s ever met.