Return

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Return

2011

1h 41m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

An Army reservist has trouble relating to her husband (Michael Shannon) and children after returning from deployment.

Critics Consensus

Powered by a compelling central performance by Linda Cardellini, Return offers a painfully compelling look at the emotional struggles faced by war veterans.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

The writer-director is Liza Johnson, an artist, making her first picture and doing it with considerable grace.

Jun 19, 2013

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

May 3, 2012

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

Skipping the usual flashbacks-and-cold-sweats cliches, Return has an understated power, even if the story traverses pretty well-trodden ground.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 29, 2012

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Patrick Gamble

CineVue

Whilst admittedly showcasing a powerhouse performance by Cardellini, Return sadly fails to convey its heart-rending story

Rated: 3/5

Jan 5, 2019

Full Review

Neely Swanson

Easy Reader (California)

As a first feature, this is a great start.

Sep 18, 2017

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Richard Haridy

Quickflix

Return is a commendable, genuine, and simple drama that effectively highlights the intrinsic trauma soldiers face when trying to come to terms with the reality of life back home.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 25, 2013

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Audience Member

The movie does take an interesting spin by putting a woman as the lead who has been to war and the husband who stayed home and raised the kids in the meantime. It is also well acted. Michael Shannon is always very good if not great but the story drags and nothing at all really happens to make it a better movie than just ok.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

This is the creepiest movie I have ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

it was kinda interesting...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

This one was a good solid film, what any soldier goes thru when they get back, from a girls point of view, but I think not all soldiers end up like that. So that's what this movie did it did not explain good. I did not like how it was developed and made. The actress was solid but it felt short in some ways. So I found this movie boring without a common comprehension. So for this being an okay film with a solid idea that soldiers go thru in the military, I give "Return" a solid C-.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film works because it's never emotionally contrived and it never comes off as anything other than heartfelt and personal. What makes this as effective as it was were the performances. The entire supporting cast does some really solid work, but the praise belongs to Linda Cardellini, who gives a wonderfully understated and subtle performance. It's in her silent moments that she resonates the most with the audience, and she absolutely deserves a lot more mentions.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting but by god it speeds along pretty fast. Perhaps would have worked better as a tv show. Cardellni is great in the lead role and just think she was in Scooby Doo once. Shannon is always a grat watch

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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Liza Johnson

Director

Linda Cardellini

Kelli

Michael Shannon

Mike

John Slattery

Bud

Talia Balsam

Julie

Emma Rayne Lyle

Jackie

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Synopsis

An Army reservist has trouble relating to her husband (Michael Shannon) and children after returning from deployment.

Director: Liza Johnson
Screenwriter: Liza Johnson
Production Co: 2.1 Films, Meredith Viera Productions, Fork Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 8, 2013
Runtime: 1h 41m