Giving moviegoers the most accurate picture of movie reviews possible
Home
Out on DVD
Search Movies
Compare Movies
Critics
Publications
About Us
Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
FOUR LIONS Movie Reviews
Comedy drama about a group of bumbling jihadists in northern England. Cast: Rizwan Ahmed, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay, Kayvan Novak, Adeel Akhtar Director: Christopher Morris Release Date: November 5, 2010 DVD Release: March 8, 2011 From: Drafthouse Films Rating: R Length: 1 hr 34 min
Out On DVD
MARCH 8, 2011

Four Lions, Very Good Reviews Key Cities

Updated: Tue, Aug 28 2012, 10:00pm
Digg This StumbleUpon del.icio.us Twitter Share on Facebook
 | E-Mail to a Friend  | Print 
Four Lions

Four Lions played in key cities to very good reviews. • Dana Stevens wrote for Slate, "The very existence of 'Four Lions' is an act of audacity; the fact that it's also smart, humane, and frequently hilarious is nothing short of a miracle." • And Shawn Levy wrote in the Portland Oregonian, "...dense, sharp, hilarious and unflinching... there's real verve and surprise in the writing..."  More Reviews Below...

Four Lions
Positive Reviews
(35 Reviews, reviews below)
 Compare This Movie... 
TotalBroad
National
Press
Local
News-
papers
Alter–
native/
Indie
High-
Brow
Press
Movie
Industry
NY/LA
Chicago
Toronto
Key
Cities
Total
B.O.
76.4% 90.6% 64.2% 77.7% 63.7% 66.5% 70.2% 63.0% $304K
Averages: 51.7% 54.3% 51.9% 47.1% 45.9% 49.0% 49.7% 54.4%
* 76.4% positive reviews out of 100%

Reviews & Quotes (35)


BROAD NATIONAL PRESS (4 Reviews)

Richard Corliss, Time: OUTSTANDING
"...brilliantly incendiary... the blackest, ballsiest political comedy since 'Dr. Strangelove.' And, for those of strong stomach, one of the funniest." (See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
1,512 words, 11/12/10

David Germain, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING (cg)
"If the Three Stooges tried to carry out their own Islamic jihad, the results could not be funnier than 'Four Lions'... wonderfully absurdist..." (See all of David Germain's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
571 words, 11/04/10

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT (cg)
"Chris Morris pushes the 'stupid' angle to outrageous heights in his burnt-black satire about clueless British jihadists with no clear ideology and even worse guerrilla skills." (See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
103 words, 11/12/10

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD (cg)
"It's an exceedingly dark comedy, a wicked satire, a thriller where the thrills center on the incompetence of the villains... fueled by both merriment and anger." (See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
662 words, 11/11/10
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app...     or get our mobile web app...
movie     review     intelligence

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (9 Reviews)

A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT
"It sustains its comedy past the point of sensitivity or good feeling... You laugh until the laughter turns to ashes in your mouth. And then you laugh some more." (See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
850 words, 11/05/10

Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD
"...challenging and often hilarious... It's not your usual comedic fodder, but the director and co-writer's extensive research and profound intellect elevate it above mere farce." (See all of Michael Ordoña's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
332 words, 11/05/10

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: POOR (cg)
"Morris has taken what might make a funny sketch and forced it to run more than an hour and a half. There's just not enough funny material to warrant the length." (See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
123 words, 11/05/10

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD (cg)
"It's an exceedingly dark comedy, a wicked satire, a thriller where the thrills center on the incompetence of the villains... fueled by both merriment and anger."
(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
662 words, 11/11/10

Dan Kois, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT
"...very funny... Chris Morris is breaking taboos because broken taboos can be hilarious." (See all of Dan Kois's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
302 words, 11/03/10

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...pretty funny, right down to the bad math in the title, although it is comedy of the darkest kind." (See all of Peter Howell's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
494 words, 02/25/11

Stephen Cole, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE (cg)
"...has a provocative, ticklish premise... [but] after a while, we feel like we're trapped in a broken jihad with the Five Stooges." (See all of Stephen Cole's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
495 words, 02/25/11

Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT (cg)
"Morris never shortchanges the characters for easy laughs, and manages some pointed comments on the state of England's relationship to its Muslim population." (See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
191 words, 02/24/11

KEY CITIES (12 Reviews)

Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: MODERATE (cg)
"...a pageant of pratfalls infused with occasionally pointed messages... the movie falters with an inconsistent tone." (See all of Stephanie Merry's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
444 words, 11/05/10

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"When it works - and it doesn't half the time - it's as if Monty Python were back, putting its merrily imbecilic stamp on the dark world of terrorism." (See all of Steven Rea's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
428 words, 11/05/10

David Lewis, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE (cg)
"...a daring, brilliantly conceptualized film, but like the bumbling bombers of the title, the execution tends to be hit-and-miss." (See all of David Lewis's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
249 words, 11/12/10

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...a very funny British send-up of the dimwitted children of parents smart enough to escape their repressive Islamic homelands." (See all of Roger Moore's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
662 words, 12/29/10

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...a dark farce sitting somewhere between 'Dr. Strangelove' and 'Duck Soup.' It will blow you away.... frantic, outrageous and surprisingly touching..." (See all of Colin Covert's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
266 words, 01/07/11

Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...full of outrageous laughs.... betrays its low-budget origins in cinematography, editing, acting and locations. Really, none of that finally matters. Mainly, you'll laugh." (See all of Richard Nilsen's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
523 words, 12/10/10

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: MODERATE (cg)
"...a brazenly comic, fatally inconsistent romp that tries to destroy radical fundamentalism with ridicule." (See all of Ty Burr's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
419 words, 11/05/10

John Hartl, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) (cg)
"...an ambitious, uneven new farce that dares to mock the motives and personalities of four suicide bombers who plan to attack the London Marathon." (See all of John Hartl's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
345 words, 11/05/10

Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: EXCELLENT (cg)
"...dense, sharp, hilarious and unflinching... there's real verve and surprise in the writing, and the climax becomes excitingly double-themed..." (See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
611 words, 11/12/10

Tom Long, Detroit News: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...a hilarious, biting British comedy that's far more about human folly than religion.... funny stuff tinged with just enough topicality to sting a bit." (See all of Tom Long's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
278 words, 01/14/11

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...director Chris Morris sets a satirical tone that is simultaneously funny and unnerving." (See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
617 words, 12/31/10

ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (7 Reviews)

Dan Kois, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT
"...very funny... Chris Morris is breaking taboos because broken taboos can be hilarious." (See all of Dan Kois's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
302 words, 11/03/10

Betsy Sherman, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD (cg)
"...well acted, and the dialogue is howlingly funny. And just because it's a comedy doesn't mean the actions don't have consequences." (See all of Betsy Sherman's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
168 words, 11/04/10

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: EXCELLENT (cg)
"...a ballsy romp through one of the least lighthearted subjects imaginable... it's an edgy provocation that alchemizes tragedy into literally explosive comedy." (See all of Nathan Rabin's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
356 words, 11/04/10

Nick Schager, Slant: MODERATE (cg)
"...part ironic farce, part politicized treatise, and mostly a snooze, failing except in certain instances to generate prickly live-wire energy..." (See all of Nick Schager's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
591 words, 10/31/10

Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT (cg)
"Morris never shortchanges the characters for easy laughs, and manages some pointed comments on the state of England's relationship to its Muslim population."
(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
191 words, 02/24/11

Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: EXCELLENT (cg)
"English broadcaster and funny man Chris Morris deploys satire and ridicule as his primary weapons in the War on Terror.... presents hilarious slapstick set pieces." (See all of Curt Holman's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
558 words, 12/03/10

HIGHBROW PRESS (6 Reviews)

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: WEAK
"...an adolescent stab at a grown-up subject.... some of their gang's escapades are amusing rather than laughable. Yet 'Four Lions' lacks a moral base." (See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
170 words, 11/05/10

A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT
"It sustains its comedy past the point of sensitivity or good feeling... You laugh until the laughter turns to ashes in your mouth. And then you laugh some more."
(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
850 words, 11/05/10

Anthony Lane, New Yorker: GOOD (NOT GREAT)
"The invective energy of 'Four Lions' is never in doubt.... It mocks the dumb relentlessly, and in so doing it allows us to believe, with a dab of smugness, that we know better." (See all of Anthony Lane's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
514 words, 11/08/10

Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD
"...challenging and often hilarious... It's not your usual comedic fodder, but the director and co-writer's extensive research and profound intellect elevate it above mere farce."
(See all of Michael Ordoña's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
332 words, 11/05/10

Dana Stevens, Slate: EXCELLENT
"The very existence of 'Four Lions' is an act of audacity; the fact that it's also smart, humane, and frequently hilarious is nothing short of a miracle." (See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
832 words, 11/11/10

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: EXCELLENT
"You'll laugh uproariously at what seems like a nihilistic but good-humored film, until you realize that director Chris Morris isn't actually kidding about any of it..." (See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
182 words, 01/25/10

MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)

Justin Chang, Daily Variety: MODERATE
"...ballsy but wobbly.... the men's broadly overplayed idiocy simply doesn't gel with the pic's would-be-convincing portrait of the jihadist's everyday mindset." (See all of Justin Chang's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
777 words, 01/27/10

Duane Byrge, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING
"...a hilarious farce and a brilliant takedown of the imbecility of fanaticism." (See all of Duane Byrge's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
382 words, 10/26/10

Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD
"...challenging and often hilarious... It's not your usual comedic fodder, but the director and co-writer's extensive research and profound intellect elevate it above mere farce."
(See all of Michael Ordoña's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
332 words, 11/05/10

Michael T. Dennis, Cinema 24/7: GOOD (cg)
"...audacious... does the seemingly-impossible by making a funny movie about suicide bombers.... manages to earn laughs at every step of the way." (See all of Michael T. Dennis's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
850 words, 11/08/10

A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT
"It sustains its comedy past the point of sensitivity or good feeling... You laugh until the laughter turns to ashes in your mouth. And then you laugh some more."
(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
850 words, 11/05/10

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: WEAK
"...an adolescent stab at a grown-up subject.... some of their gang's escapades are amusing rather than laughable. Yet 'Four Lions' lacks a moral base." (See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...) (Read the full review...)
170 words, 11/05/10
(cg) = based on the critic's grade

Review Mixture
18.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews
(Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Four Lions

Four Lions's reviews are separated by an average 18.7 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.

Four Lions
(35 reviews)
Roll over dots for each review
Broad National   Alternative/Indie   Highbrow Press   Key Cities
NY, LA, Chicago, & Toronto Movie Industry  
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Moderate
Weak
Poor
Reviews
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Moderate
Weak
Poor
Reviews
Big
Publications
>Bigger
Publications
>Biggest
Publications
Coverage, Volume & Length
Four Lions

Coverage: Four Lions's reviews cover 58.2% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume: The film's reviews total 16,320 words in volume (average is 20,194 words). Length: The film's reviews average 466 words in length (the norm is 517 words).

Four Lions
Coverage, Volume & Length
(35 Reviews, reviews below)
TotalBroad
National
Press
Local
News-
papers
Alter–
native/
Indie
High-
Brow
Press
Movie
Industry
NY/LA
Chicago
Toronto
Key
Cities
Total
B.O.
Coverage:
Volume:
Length:
58.2%
16,320
466
47.0%
2,848
712
70.3%
8,015
445
79.0%
2,412
345
86.5%
2,880
480
100.0%
3,361
560
65.8%
3,695
411
78.9%
5,059
422
$304K
Averages: 67.9%
20,194
517
65.9%
3,293
468
80.7%
10,360
518
82.0%
3,545
448
58.6%
2,460
626
85.2%
3,381
674
84.6%
5,870
497
73.2%
2,799
533
Opening Day Reviews
Reviews Broke 25.4 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)

Four Lions's reviews on average broke 25.4 hours 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 Four Lions's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.

Four Lions
(35 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
M O R E    P O S I T I V E    R E V I E W S
E
A
R
L
I
E
R
L
A
T
E
R
M O R E    N E G A T I V E    R E V I E W S
Movie Review Intelligence Mobile Web App 1.2
Updated: Tue, Aug 28 2012, 10:00pm
Digg This StumbleUpon del.icio.us Twitter Share on Facebook
 | E-Mail to a Friend  | Print 


Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser.

From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...


 

get one email
Update
every Friday when
the reviews are in
GO

Opening Soon
   (Early Figures)

Friday, May 24
Fast & Furious 6 78.0% May 24
The Hangover Part III 25.0% May 23
Epic (2013) nr May 24
3 Geezers! 50.0% May 22
A Green Story 25.0% May 24
Alyce Kills 62.5% May 24
Before Midnight (2013) 97.5% May 24
Charge 75.0% May 23
Fill the Void (Lemale et ha'halal) 77.5% May 24
Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself 67.9% May 22
We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks 76.7% May 24
Friday, May 31
After Earth nr May 31
Now You See Me (2013) nr May 31
American Mary 66.6% May 31
Hannah Arendt 65.6% May 29
I Do (2013) 54.5% May 31
Shadow Dancer (2013) 73.3% May 31
The East 89.1% May 31
The Kings of Summer 75.0% May 31
Friday, June 7
The Internship (2013) nr Jun 7
The Purge nr Jun 7
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie nr Jun 7
Dirty Wars 83.0% Jun 7
Much Ado About Nothing (2013) 95.6% Jun 7
Passion 53.5% Jun 7
Rapture-Palooza nr Jun 7
Syrup nr Jun 7
Tiger Eyes nr Jun 7
Violet & Daisy 58.0% Jun 7
Wish You Were Here (2013) 72.7% Jun 7
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet (Vous n'avez encore rien vu) 71.1% Jun 7
Friday, June 14
This Is the End nr Jun 12
Man of Steel (2013) nr Jun 14
The Bling Ring 66.6% Jun 14
Vehicle 19 25.0% Jun 14
Beyond
Don Jon 55.6% Oct 18
Battle of the Year nr Sep 13
Ain't Them Bodies Saints 86.3% Aug 16
Crystal Fairy 65.0% Jul 12
Fruitvale Station 89.3% Jul 26
I'm So Excited! 54.7% Jun 28
In a World... 81.5% Aug 9
Lovelace 73.5% Aug 9
Prince Avalanche 77.9% Aug 16
The Attack (L'attentat) 62.8% Jun 21
The Hunt (Jagten) 71.3% Jul 12
The Spectacular Now 82.2% Aug 2
The Way, Way Back 87.6% Jul 5
Touchy Feely 61.5% Sep 6
V/H/S/2 68.3% Jul 12
Wadjda 90.1% Aug 30
You Will Be My Son (Tu seras mon fils) 71.3% Sep 13