Watch Life on the Rocks

Life on the Rocks is an emotional and touching movie that explores the intersection of family, addiction, and redemption. Directed by Joanna Bowzer, the film follows the story of a struggling artist named Alex, played by Zach Alden, who has been estranged from his family for years due to his addiction to drugs and alcohol. After hitting rock bottom, Alex decides to return home to reconnect with his mother, played by Bonnie Bedelia, and his younger sister, played by Jasmine Hester, in hopes of rebuilding his shattered life.

The film opens with Alex living on the streets of Los Angeles, his face bruised and beaten after a drug altercation. He is barely able to keep it together, and his life is consumed by a vicious cycle of addiction and homelessness. After a chance encounter with an old friend, he is convinced to return to his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, to try and repair the damage he's inflicted on his family.

When Alex arrives home, he's met with a less than welcoming reception. His mother is understandably skeptical of his newfound sobriety, and his sister is still angry at him for destroying her childhood. However, as the days go by and Alex proves that he's committed to his sobriety, the walls around the family begin to thaw, and they slowly start to rebuild their relationship.

Throughout the film, we see flashbacks of Alex's past, detailing his descent into addiction and the ways it's destroyed his personal and professional life. He's not just trying to rebuild his relationship with his family, but he's also trying to reconnect with his art, which he abandoned years ago when the drugs took hold. As Alex struggles to find his place in the world again, we begin to see the full extent of the damage that addiction can inflict on a person's life.

One of the strengths of Life on the Rocks is the way it explores the complexity of addiction and the ways it can tear apart families. Audiences watching the film will come away with a deeper understanding of the struggles that addicts face on a day-to-day basis, as well as the ways that addiction can impact the people around them. Through Alex's story, we see the immense effort and courage it takes to turn one's life around and the power of forgiveness and redemption when given a second chance.

Moreover, the film is beautifully shot, with stunning images of the coastal town and the surrounding landscape. The visuals and careful cinematography help create a feeling of both calm and chaos that perfectly captures Alex's rollercoaster journey.

As far as the performances go, Zach Alden delivers a nuanced and powerful performance as Alex. He's able to convey the raw emotions of a man who's been through the wringer and is trying to fight his way back to normalcy. Bonnie Bedelia brings a grounded and nuanced performance as Alex's mother who's dealing with the aftermath of his addiction. Jasmine Hester also shines as the younger sister who's caught in the crossfire of Alex's addiction and who's trying to find her own way in the world.

In conclusion, Life on the Rocks is a moving and emotional film that tackles a difficult subject matter with sensitivity and grace. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of family, forgiveness, and the struggles of addiction. It's a film that will stay with audiences long after the credits roll, and it's a testament to the power of cinema to tell important and meaningful stories.

Life on the Rocks is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1.