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30 MINUTES OR LESSMovie Reviews
Action comedy about a small town pizza delivery guy whose mundane life collides with the big plans of two wanna-be criminal masterminds. Cast:Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick SwardsonDirector:Ruben FleischerRelease Date:August 12, 2011DVD Release:November 29, 2011From:Sony PicturesRating:RLength:1 hr 23 min
30 Minutes or Less played to fair reviews. Reviews were mixed. • Stephanie Zacharek wrote for Movieline, "...works too hard to be fun and crazy. For every line or gag that works, there are three or four more that seem to belong in a different movie altogether..." • And Emanuel Levy wrote for Cinema 24/7, "Brisk, sporadically entertaining, but also shallow and inconsequential." More Reviews Below...
30 Minutes or Less Positive Reviews (47 Reviews, reviews below)
Richard Corliss, Time: POOR "For a soul-sucking 83 minutes, you're trapped inside the film's tiny, ugly mind.... has the feel of a frat-house improv attempted by guys who've done too much weed."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 939 words, 08/12/11
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: MODERATE(cg) "Even actors as delightfully odd and fearless as McBride and Swardson, who have their moments, can't make this thing explode off the screen."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 635 words, 08/11/11
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "...zany, irreverent... Nick desperately enlists his uptight BFF Chet, and they fumble their way through a hysterical heist.... The dudes' rapid-fire banter fills every scene..."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 74 words, 08/11/11
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "...weirdly funny and fast-paced, not to mention determinedly mean, filthy, and jackass irresponsible.... There's nothing nice about it.... It blew me sideways."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 336 words, 08/12/11
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The movie is just an excuse for laughs that come fast, fat and raunchy... Ruben Fleischer isn't much on details. It's all about the zigzagging rush of the ride."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 176 words, 08/05/11
Claudia Puig, USA Today: MODERATE(cg) "...wallows in stupidity without making the bromance bonds believable.... a movie that wastes the talents of its stars with feeble jokes and a wobbly plot."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 400 words, 08/12/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: MODERATE(cg) "Need I explain that everyone involved in this plot is stupid enough to go along with it?... Eisenberg is a good actor, which may be why he's wrong for this dumb comedy."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 595 words, 08/12/11
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: EXCELLENT(cg) "...punchy, nasty, laugh-out-loud-funny... director Ruben Fleischer is pretty great with the timing and ruthless about keeping the whole thing fat-free."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 624 words, 08/09/11
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD(cg) "...often strays into territory that can be categorized as politically incorrect, but the result is funny, engaging, and at times a little disconcerting."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 743 words, 08/12/11
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: POOR "...unfunny... Although Mr. Eisenberg radiates natural intelligence even when his motor mouth is running on empty dialogue, his character is a grade-A moron."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 571 words, 08/12/11
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "A darkly comic underachiever that manages to charm almost in spite of itself... probably best watched as it was made: without much evident effort."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 338 words, 08/12/11
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Fast, cheap and out of control... ends up being just sharp enough at its peaks to be frustrating in its valleys. But the laughs are there."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 499 words, 08/12/11
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: GOOD "...it's impressive how much suspense Ruben Fleischer and Michael Dilberti are able to generate given that no one onscreen has any brains."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 525 words, 08/13/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: MODERATE(cg) "Need I explain that everyone involved in this plot is stupid enough to go along with it?... Eisenberg is a good actor, which may be why he's wrong for this dumb comedy."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 595 words, 08/12/11
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...rude good fun without excessive raunch.... feels like a throwback to comedies of the '80s or even '70s, with a caper plot involving a $100,000 bank heist..."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 552 words, 08/12/11
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "Much of the amusement goes missing in action.... Yep, from the premise to the performances, everything and everybody just seems to be trying way too hard."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 688 words, 08/12/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "If you're expecting the next 'Heat,' you'll be sorely disappointed, but it's enjoyable enough on its own very modest terms."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 194 words, 08/11/11
KEY CITIES (14 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: POOR(cg) "...akin to watching a ring-tested champion punch far below his weight.... Danny McBride literally phones it in, in long, talky, deadly-dull expository sequences."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 255 words, 08/12/11
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: MODERATE(cg) "Eisenberg does his usual Eisenbergian thing, more slacker and less hacker, but still hitting the same notes.... Ansari squawks and yelps, like a parrot with a grudge."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 498 words, 08/12/11
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a fitfully funny farce, a caper comedy with blood and bad language. Amusing at times, it still feels like a letdown after Ruben Fleischer's gonzo 'Zombieland.' "(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 582 words, 08/12/11
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: MODERATE(cg) "...wallows in such abject stupidity for big chunks of time that the talents of such actors as Eisenberg, Ansari, McBride and Swardson are largely wasted."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 607 words, 08/12/11
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "It has a miserable start - well, it has a miserable middle, too. But the director Ruben Fleischer makes swift work of Michael Diliberti's script..."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 583 words, 08/12/11
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "To some degree it is funny, but more often '30 Minutes' is funny in the sense of 'strange.' It's also reasonably watchable and not boring. But... yecch."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 528 words, 08/12/11
Mike Russell, Portland Oregonian: GOOD(cg) "...isn't a frame longer than necessary... the scenes with Ansari and Eisenberg pop -- particularly during their laugh-out-loud amateur robbery."(See all of Mike Russell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 260 words, 08/12/11
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: MODERATE(cg) "The idea seems like it was cooked up in half an hour by two guys with the munchies.... could have been a guilty pleasure, but the crusty caper is half baked."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 326 words, 08/12/11
Tom Long, Detroit News: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a roller coaster shriek of a film -- high-pitched, raucous and blindingly fast... it's a bit like the Three Stooges on crack -- nutty, loud, profane and full of laughs."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 546 words, 08/12/11
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: EXCELLENT(cg) "...knows exactly how to go over the top and then quit while it's still soaring.... willfully dumb with a clever streak that keeps it afloat just long enough."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 690 words, 08/06/11
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: WEAK(cg) "...offensive but unfunny... if you're looking for misogyny, racism, homophobia, and contempt for poor people disguised as humor, this movie is for you."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 160 words, 08/11/11
Stephanie Zacharek, Movieline: GOOD(cg) "For every line or gag that works, there are three or four more that seem to belong in a different movie altogether, either a darker one or a breezier one."(See all of Stephanie Zacharek's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,074 words, 08/11/11
R. Kurt Osenlund, Slant: WEAK(cg) "...a proudly stupid action comedy that's awfully lethargic for all its slam-bang propulsion... it's 83 minutes of noncommittal tripe that's just about dead on delivery."(See all of R. Kurt Osenlund's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 837 words, 08/11/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "If you're expecting the next 'Heat,' you'll be sorely disappointed, but it's enjoyable enough on its own very modest terms."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 194 words, 08/11/11
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Neither funny enough to be a great comedy nor exciting enough to be a great action movie... a breezy guy-oriented comedy."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 401 words, 08/12/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (5 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: POOR "...unfunny... Although Mr. Eisenberg radiates natural intelligence even when his motor mouth is running on empty dialogue, his character is a grade-A moron."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 571 words, 08/12/11
Mark Jenkins, NPR: WEAK "Fleischer and Eisenberg don't demonstrate any rapport here.... The cast rarely finds a plausible way to deliver the Tarantino-meets-Apatow dialogue..."(See all of Mark Jenkins's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 511 words, 08/11/11
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Fast, cheap and out of control... ends up being just sharp enough at its peaks to be frustrating in its valleys. But the laughs are there."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 499 words, 08/12/11
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: POOR "...revolves around the false premise that if one team of bumbling idiots is hilarious, as in 'Dumb and Dumber,' then you double the fun with two teams."(See all of Kirk Honeycutt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 801 words, 08/05/11
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Fast, cheap and out of control... ends up being just sharp enough at its peaks to be frustrating in its valleys. But the laughs are there."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 499 words, 08/12/11
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Brisk, sporadically entertaining, but also shallow and inconsequential.... In the end, not particularly satisfying as an actioner or comedy."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 552 words, 08/08/11
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: POOR "...unfunny... Although Mr. Eisenberg radiates natural intelligence even when his motor mouth is running on empty dialogue, his character is a grade-A moron."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 571 words, 08/12/11
21.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
30 Minutes or Less's reviews are separated by an average 21.2 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
30 Minutes or Less (47 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:30 Minutes or Less's reviews cover 79.1% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 25,002 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 532 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
30 Minutes or Less Coverage, Volume & Length (47 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 23.9 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
30 Minutes or Less's reviews on average broke 23.9 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is 30 Minutes or Less's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
30 Minutes or Less (47 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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