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BOY (2012)Movie Reviews
Drama comedy about an 11-year-old New Zealand boy whose much-mythologized father returns home from a long absence. Cast:James Rolleston, Te Aho Eketone-Whitu, Taika Waititi, Moerangi Tihore, Cherilee Martin, RickyLee Waipuka-Russell, Haze Reweti, Maakariini Butler, Rajvinder EriaDirector:Taika WaitikiRelease Date:March 2, 2012DVD Release: TBD From:PaladinLength:1 hr 27 min
Boy (2012) played in key cities to very good reviews. • Ty Burr wrote in the Boston Globe, "...cool, calm, observant, and heartbreaking.... rollicks along with bright, sunny style... balances its sadness with invention." • And Joe Morgenstern wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "...super-exuberant and super-affecting, thanks to the pairing of James Rolleston as the boy of the title and Taika Waititi, the filmmaker, as his father." More Reviews Below...
Boy (2012) Positive Reviews (26 Reviews, reviews below)
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "...could have been a twee mush of cuteness and bathos but it's not, in large part because of the outstanding cast of unself-conscious Maori kids."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 90 words, 03/09/12
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: OUTSTANDING(cg) "A film like this would have little chance without the right casting, and James Rolleston is so right as Boy, it's difficult to imagine anyone else."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 799 words, 04/27/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (10 Reviews)
David DeWitt, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...has a surprising rhythmic genius: joy juxtaposed with humiliation, silliness with sadness, fantasy with reality, and none of it formulaic."(See all of David DeWitt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 500 words, 03/02/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...there's potential here. But writer-director and co-star Taika Waititi ('Eagle vs Shark') never builds much momentum for his largely uneventful if sometimes inventive story."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 215 words, 03/09/12
Kyle Smith, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...charming... has the loose, lanky feel of a memoir and of French New Wave films.... the film somehow manages both to drag on and feel too short at the same time."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 211 words, 03/02/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "A film like this would have little chance without the right casting, and James Rolleston is so right as Boy, it's difficult to imagine anyone else."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 799 words, 04/27/12
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "The abundant charm of first-time actor James Rolleston, playing the 11-year-old, doesn't quite save the aimless, nostalgia-woozy second feature from Taika Waititi..."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 199 words, 02/29/12
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: MODERATE(cg) "...a simple story of coming of age and the bitter failings of hero worship that succeeds thanks to the impressive skills of its young star."(See all of Linda Barnard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 628 words, 07/13/12
John Barber, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...insistently likeable.... Drawn and animated by Waikiki himself, Rocky's fantasy sequences typify the consistent wit that keeps 'Boy' bobbing along so buoyantly."(See all of John Barber's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 493 words, 07/13/12
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...slight and a little bit predictable, but 'Boy,' a story set in a Maori community, has so much charm it's hard to resist."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 183 words, 07/12/12
KEY CITIES (8 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "The movie can be silly at times... but it's also smart, stylish and substantial. At age 36, Taika Waititi is a filmmaker who seems wise beyond his years."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 489 words, 03/30/12
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a charmer, a funny and affecting coming-of-age story rendered with heart, and with nuttiness.... 'Boy' is balanced out by James Rolleston's smart, soulful performance."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 250 words, 04/06/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a delightful discovery, a charming little film about fathers, sons, New Zealand and Michael Jackson.... heartfelt and heartbreaking."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 634 words, 04/06/12
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "...cool, calm, observant, and heartbreaking.... rollicks along with bright, sunny style and, for the most part, balances its sadness with invention."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 525 words, 03/30/12
Walter Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "...almost pulls off the trick of merging cartoonish humor and '80s pop culture... The film has an appealing 11-year-old hero, but in the end feels half baked."(See all of Walter Addiego's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 276 words, 03/16/12
John Hartl, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...the well-cast Boy (James Rolleston) and Rocky (Te Aho Eketone-Whitu) are given rich fantasy lives that erupt into scenes of almost genial mayhem."(See all of John Hartl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 301 words, 03/23/12
Tom Long, Detroit News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...vibrates with desperation, frustration and the simple unfairness of life, leavened with glimpses of hope. There's a bit of Cyril in every childhood..."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 280 words, 03/30/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (7 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "The abundant charm of first-time actor James Rolleston, playing the 11-year-old, doesn't quite save the aimless, nostalgia-woozy second feature from Taika Waititi..."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 199 words, 02/29/12
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Director Taika Waititi maintains a quirky tone ranging from whimsy to heartbreak... Funny and touching at times, but a little bit of Dad goes a long way."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 175 words, 03/29/12
Nathan Rabin, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "...an enormously likable coming-of-age comedy... recaptures the vulnerability and optimism of childhood without becoming twee or maudlin in the process."(See all of Nathan Rabin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 425 words, 03/01/12
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: WEAK(cg) "...renditions of the vexed father-son dynamic veer from goofy to cute, never quite convincing, and not a little clichéd, complete with montages and wayward pets..."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 930 words, 04/02/12
Andrew Schenker, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...one of those movies where a central character's rottenness is apparent to everyone except for another central character... seems more than a tad superficial..."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 421 words, 02/29/12
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...slight and a little bit predictable, but 'Boy,' a story set in a Maori community, has so much charm it's hard to resist."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 183 words, 07/12/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...super-exuberant and super-affecting, thanks to the pairing of James Rolleston as the boy of the title and Taika Waititi, the filmmaker, as his father."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 444 words, 03/16/12
David DeWitt, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...has a surprising rhythmic genius: joy juxtaposed with humiliation, silliness with sadness, fantasy with reality, and none of it formulaic."(See all of David DeWitt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 500 words, 03/02/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...there's potential here. But writer-director and co-star Taika Waititi ('Eagle vs Shark') never builds much momentum for his largely uneventful if sometimes inventive story."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 215 words, 03/09/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: MODERATE "Apart from the local vistas and mostly Maori cast, 'Eagle vs. Shark' director Taika Waititi has scrubbed away all culturally specific traits..."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 646 words, 01/23/10
James Greenberg, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "...has the cartoon-like feel of reality seen through the eyes of a promising and utterly disarming 10-year-old. No one here is completely evil..."(See all of James Greenberg's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 601 words, 10/14/10
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...there's potential here. But writer-director and co-star Taika Waititi ('Eagle vs Shark') never builds much momentum for his largely uneventful if sometimes inventive story."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 215 words, 03/09/12
David DeWitt, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...has a surprising rhythmic genius: joy juxtaposed with humiliation, silliness with sadness, fantasy with reality, and none of it formulaic."(See all of David DeWitt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 500 words, 03/02/12
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...super-exuberant and super-affecting, thanks to the pairing of James Rolleston as the boy of the title and Taika Waititi, the filmmaker, as his father."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 444 words, 03/16/12
17.0 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Boy (2012)'s reviews are separated by an average 17.0 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.
Boy (2012) (26 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Boy (2012)'s reviews cover 32.8% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 10,176 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 391 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Boy (2012) Coverage, Volume & Length (26 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 3 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Boy (2012)'s reviews on average broke 3 days after 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 Boy (2012)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Boy (2012) (26 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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