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FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL...Movie Reviews
Comedy about two women who reluctantly become roommates to save on rent and decide to start a phone-sex business to earn extra cash. Cast:Ari Graynor, Lauren Anne Miller, Justin Long, Mark Webber, James Wolk, Nia Vardalos, Mimi Rogers, Don McManus, Sugar Lyn Beard, Steven Shaw, Seth Rogen, Kevin Marino, Kevin SmithDirector:Jamie TravisRelease Date:August 31, 2012DVD Release:January 22, 2013From:Focus FeaturesRating:RLength:1 hr 26 min
JANUARY 22, 2013
For a Good Time, Call..., Good Reviews, Mixed Key Cities
For a Good Time, Call... played in key cities to good reviews that at the same time were mixed. • Mara Reinstein wrote in Us Weekly, "...a charming, raucous, fizzy love story.... The dirty talk is funny. The fallout is funnier.... Kristen Wiig would be proud." • And Dana Stevens wrote for Slate, "...there was something about the buoyant spirit of this raunchy female-friendship comedy that won me over..." More Reviews Below...
For a Good Time, Call... Positive Reviews (40 Reviews, reviews below)
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: VERY GOOD(cg) "...there end up being enough surprises and subversive twists that you find yourself unexpectedly charmed... 'For a Good Time, Call...' is exactly as advertised."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 658 words, 08/30/12
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "...crudely shot and about as thin as a mediocre sitcom, yet its central situation is disarmingly funny -- and, after a while, oddly winning."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 221 words, 08/31/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...slaps a goofy smile on your face and makes it stick. It helps that the two stars are irresistible.... a rare instance of truth in advertising, the movie actually is a good time."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 231 words, 08/31/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: MODERATE(cg) "I'm not objecting to the movie on grounds of taste but because it is stupid, vulgar, crass and mercilessly formulaic.... maybe I am objecting on grounds of taste."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 08/31/12
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: EXCELLENT(cg) "...not just smart and sexy -- which, to be honest, is rare enough in filmmaking these days -- but it's also got a great deal of humanity and humor."(See all of James Rocchi's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 661 words, 08/27/12
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...an enjoyable, if ultimately forgettable, 90 minutes.... Unfortunately, the basic storyline is pure sit-com with a contrived set-up and a quick, facile resolution."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 729 words, 09/07/12
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Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The most adorably filthy movie you may ever see.... As with 'Bridesmaids,' its obvious inspiration, this movie succeeds by emphasizing heart over humor."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 308 words, 08/31/12
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...meek, mild-mannered... a showcase for writing that doesn't dazzle and a story of self-discovery that reveals no new insights.... slapdash and unfocused."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 304 words, 08/31/12
Sara Stewart, New York Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Jamie Travis gets very likable performances out of his female stars. And it's nice to see sex given its due as a wide, wild buffet.... Mmm-hmmm!"(See all of Sara Stewart's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 484 words, 08/31/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...raunchy but rather sweet... at its best, the film glides along and pays attention to what might actually make these two disparate characters genuine friends."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 379 words, 08/31/12
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: VERY GOOD "...delightful, the phone-sex talk sweetening the vibe. Justin Long is peerlessly funny as the girls' gay pal, but the movie belongs to Ari Graynor..."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 333 words, 08/31/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: MODERATE(cg) "I'm not objecting to the movie on grounds of taste but because it is stupid, vulgar, crass and mercilessly formulaic.... maybe I am objecting on grounds of taste."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 08/31/12
Chris Packham, Village Voice: VERY GOOD "...a funny dude-bro movie in which the funny dude-bros are women... After establishing a sort of 'Odd Couple'-ish character dynamic, the script cleverly subverts it."(See all of Chris Packham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 478 words, 08/29/12
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "...entertaining.... what makes our stay with these two is the effortless charm of Miller and Graynor, comic actresses with superb timing and buckets of screen presence."(See all of Linda Barnard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 567 words, 08/31/12
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "...you've got to wonder at all that strangely unresolved homoerotic tension at work, especially since the women do seem to fall genuinely in love with each other..."(See all of Geoff Pevere's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 577 words, 08/31/12
Phil Brown, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...swiftly paced and light enough to pass the time. You'll leave feeling momentarily satisfied but ultimately ripped off, much like when using a certain phone service."(See all of Phil Brown's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 188 words, 08/30/12
KEY CITIES (11 Reviews)
Jess Righthand, Washington Post: WEAK(cg) "It's a small miracle that the action stops short of a naked pillow fight. This 'bramance' is really just some kind of stereotypical male fantasy incarnate."(See all of Jess Righthand's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 547 words, 08/31/12
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: MODERATE(cg) "The film (a) is not recommended for the prudish and (b) does not live up to its title... It delivers a few laughs, many cringes..."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 453 words, 09/07/12
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: POOR(cg) "A foul-mouthed female 'Odd Couple'... The comedic hook here is watching girls behave like Maxim-reading, fart-igniting recliner jockeys."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 109 words, 09/07/12
Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a solid debut from the first-time screenwriters, who hustled outside the studio system to get the film financed... strikes just the right balance of sugar and sass."(See all of Barbara VanDenburgh's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 470 words, 09/07/12
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "What's so good about Ari Graynor doesn't come from the script, per se.... since we don't have a real sense of her comedic style or rhythm, she's surprising."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 734 words, 08/31/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: POOR(cg) "Unfortunately nothing here is very good. Lauren Miller isn't very appealing as an actress or writer; her line readings are flat.... you should avoid this movie."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 515 words, 08/31/12
Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "...adheres to those familiar, looping patterns of joy, rancor and revelation that everyone, in the age of 'Final Draft,' have come to expect..."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 326 words, 08/31/12
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: MODERATE(cg) "...so cluttered up with raunchy-for-raunchy's-sake dialogue, standard-issue sidekicks and inexplicable behavior that it eventually wears out its welcome."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 280 words, 08/31/12
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: POOR(cg) "Save the money you might spend for a ticket and just read a dive bar's restroom wall for free... Shocking? Yes. Funny? Not really."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 372 words, 09/14/12
Tom Long, Detroit News: GOOD(cg) "...it's something of a one-joke movie, and a few turns are a real reach.... Is it one for the ages? No. Is it a good time? Good enough."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 310 words, 09/07/12
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: POOR(cg) "Everything in the movie is played for clownish laughs... the girls' phone-sex routines are neither funny nor a turn-on.... For a good time, don't."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 377 words, 09/07/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (8 Reviews)
Chris Packham, Village Voice: VERY GOOD "...a funny dude-bro movie in which the funny dude-bros are women... After establishing a sort of 'Odd Couple'-ish character dynamic, the script cleverly subverts it."(See all of Chris Packham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 478 words, 08/29/12
Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...gets a good number of things right... It's great to see a realistic female friendship portrayed on screen, but it could have used a few more big laughs."(See all of Eric Eisenberg's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 593 words, 08/30/12
Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix: WEAK(cg) "...just the usual opposites-attract sludge, post-'Sex and the City.' I've had more exciting conversations on the phone with my mother."(See all of Brett Michel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 169 words, 08/30/12
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: GOOD(cg) "...scores points by treating sex frankly, with playful mock coyness or none at all... as contrived and formulaic as any rom-com or mismatched-roommates sitcom..."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 538 words, 08/30/12
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: WEAK(cg) "...results are mixed. Sometimes the jokes are flat and sometimes they're maybe vulgar but not nearly shocking or especially hilarious... the finale feels canned..."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 850 words, 08/31/12
Andrew Schenker, Slant: WEAK(cg) "Scripted by two women... directed by a man... it all unfolds rather by the numbers, dictated more by the expected arc of such things than the demands of the characters."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 447 words, 08/26/12
Phil Brown, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...swiftly paced and light enough to pass the time. You'll leave feeling momentarily satisfied but ultimately ripped off, much like when using a certain phone service."(See all of Phil Brown's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 188 words, 08/30/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: MODERATE(cg) "...morphs into something that it clearly hopes we'll all tag 'that cute phone-sex comedy'... Can't ever have too much Justin Long."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 301 words, 11/02/12
Ella Taylor, NPR: MODERATE "...sporadically charming... a sweet, girl's-own bromance between those stock female archetypes, Strait Lace and Wanton Hussy... offers itself as a warm-hearted frippery..."(See all of Ella Taylor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 671 words, 08/30/12
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...meek, mild-mannered... a showcase for writing that doesn't dazzle and a story of self-discovery that reveals no new insights.... slapdash and unfocused."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 304 words, 08/31/12
Dana Stevens, Slate: GOOD "...crude and derivative and only sporadically funny.... But there was something about the buoyant spirit of this raunchy female-friendship comedy that won me over anyway."(See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 754 words, 08/31/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Dennis Harvey, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...doesn't rise much above sitcom level in material or execution, but provides enough laughs and goodwill to be disarmingly entertaining."(See all of Dennis Harvey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 477 words, 01/24/12
John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "A feel-good raunch-com.... ably follows the Apatow ratio of sweet to salty, and keeps the audience laughing consistently... a light, brisk pic..."(See all of John DeFore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 404 words, 01/23/12
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...meek, mild-mannered... a showcase for writing that doesn't dazzle and a story of self-discovery that reveals no new insights.... slapdash and unfocused."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 304 words, 08/31/12
20.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
For a Good Time, Call...'s reviews are separated by an average 20.7 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.
For a Good Time, Call... (40 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:For a Good Time, Call...'s reviews cover 75.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 17,578 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 440 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
For a Good Time, Call... Coverage, Volume & Length (40 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 38.4 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
For a Good Time, Call...'s reviews on average broke 38.4 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 For a Good Time, Call...'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
For a Good Time, Call... (40 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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