Parents' Guide to

Recovery Boys

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Intense, honest, and inspiring docu about opioid addiction.

Movie NR 2018 89 minutes
Recovery Boys Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 1 parent review

Lz42810
Lz42810 Adult
August 6, 2020
age 7+

Excellent show of hope.

Ryan’s story affected me the most. He is inspiring. He gives me hope and I wish all addicts will seek recovery before its to late.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Jeff, Rush, Adam, and Ryan: They're only known by their first names in RECOVERY BOYS. Each of them is beginning a six-month stint at Jacob's Ladder, a brand-new, innovative rehab facility that is designed to offer hope to the hopeless of rural West Virginia. In a setting where opioid addiction is wreaking havoc on an entire population, Dr. Kevin Blankenship, having lived through the challenge of his son's addiction, is cautiously optimistic. In answer to the sparsity of recovery facilities in the area, Jacob's Ladder will provide counseling, a secure place, and a farm to keep its residents busy and engaged in life. Jeff, the first resident, is struggling to regain custody of his two young daughters. This will be the 10th program for Rush, whose life has been saved by medics 14 times. Adam, a wholesome-looking boy, is desperate to stop hurting those he loves and save himself. Ryan is the only man who arrives directly from the street; he must withdraw from the drugs before he can even begin to recover. The first six months are filled with moments of progress and positivity, as well as moments of despair and self-hatred. Each reaches a milestone when they "graduate" into the real world to begin life again. The filmmakers keep the young men close for another year. What transpires is unpredictable -- at times grim, at others, heartening.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

What courage and trust it must have taken for the four compelling young men at the center of this story to appear on film at such a harrowing time in their lives; their trust was not misplaced. Elaine McMillion-Sheldon treats each of them with dignity, respect, and compassion. She offers no explanations and makes no judgments. Not on "the boys." Not on Dr. Kevin Blankenship and his staff. What's more, McMillion-Sheldon seems to capture their unique spirits, as well as the demons that accompany each young man's journey. The camera is at the right place at the right time. The composing and the editing are executed with a sure hand and a gift for intimacy.

Recovery Boys doesn't make any promises. It doesn't offer hope where there is little. Still, there are moments that call for cheering, moments that call for kudos to Blankenship, et al. It's movie time well spent. Audiences can't help but be deeply affected, even heartened, by this film.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how documentaries shed light on important topics in today's world. Were you aware of the opioid epidemic in the United States? Did Recovery Boys change any perceptions you had before? Why does focusing on individuals rather than a concept help illuminate such an issue?

  • Documentaries are intended to inform, entertain, inspire, or persuade. Which category(ies) describes Recovery Boys? Why?

  • Were you surprised by the outcomes? What were your expectations for each young man: Jeff, Rush, Adam, and Ryan? How did you feel about how each fared by the movie's end?

  • What character strengths and skills (e.g., compassion, communication) did the staff of Jacob's Ladder rely on? What character strengths (e.g., perseverance, courage) did the "boys" need to help their recovery? What character strengths do you think most influenced the level of success each young man had?

Movie Details

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