STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
Lizzie Hunt (Julie Walters) is a woman who has just been released from prison on parole after serving a long stretch inside for murdering her husband in an alcoholic fit of rage.The conditions for her parole are that she keeps away from the booze and her now teenage son.However,as events progress,these conditions become harder and harder to abide by,and doubts begin to creep in to her mind as to whether she is in fact a murderer after all.
This is certainly a strong premise to build a drama/thriller on,and the film is well carried by a strong,commanding central performance from Walters,who wonderfully conveys the varying emotions of a reformed killer and recovering alcoholic respectively.The supporting cast manage to keep the boat flowing fairly well too.However,it's capsized by a monotonous,stationary script,which has a number of potentially interesting sub-plots to build on,but instead chooses to linger too heavily in first gear,causing the film to become slightly repetitive and boring.
And it's ultimately the script that,despite some sparkling dialogue,causes The Return to fall short of it's full potential.***
