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WHEN IN ROMEMovie Reviews
Romantic comedy about an ambitious young New Yorker, perpetually unlucky in love, who is pursued by a motley crew of suitors after she swipes a handful of coins from a fountain of love in Rome. Cast:Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Will Arnett, Alexis Dziena, Jon HederDirector:Mark Steven JohnsonRelease Date:January 29, 2010DVD Release:June 15, 2010From:Walt Disney PicturesRating:PG-13Length:1 hr 31 min
When in Rome played to weak reviews. • Amy Biancolli wrote in the Houston Chronicle, "Comedies require precision, and there's none here; instead, characters and scenes bash into each other with no evident purpose or logic." • And Andrew Dowler wrote in Toronto Now, "...an okay romantic comedy whose romance is formulaic and whose humour peaks at the one-hour mark with a visit to a pitch-black restaurant." More Reviews Below...
When in Rome Positive Reviews (31 Reviews, reviews below)
Richard Corliss, Time: POOR "...the supporting cast, including Anjelica Huston as a Guggenheim chief curator and Bobby Moynihan as Nick's very possessive pal, has no characters or amusing lines..."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 744 words, 01/30/10
Claudia Puig, USA Today: MODERATE(cg) "There's a higher-than-average dose of chemistry between the affable and attractive leads... Their likability is the only reason to watch the movie."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 571 words, 01/29/10
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (11 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: WEAK "There are slapstick gags that fizzle and misfire... dull stabs at verbal wit that leave you baffled, bored or slightly grossed out."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 800 words, 01/29/10
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune: WEAK "I enjoyed the end-credits... But director Mark Steven Johnson does not make the pre-end-credits part of the movie, otherwise known as 'the movie,' much fun at all."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 425 words, 01/29/10
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times: WEAK(cg) "I go into every screening experience with an open mind. Of course expectations are higher for certain films... With 'When in Rome,' hope died at about the three-minute mark."(See all of Richard Roeper's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 742 words, 01/29/10
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "Kristen Bell brings enough effervescence to the film that she's able to spark believable chemistry with a usual dud like Josh Duhamel..."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 201 words, 01/27/10
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: POOR(cg) "Bell and Duhamel may have something as a romantic onscreen pair but there's no telling. What's going on around them is both distracting and annoying..."(See all of Linda Barnard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 506 words, 01/29/10
Andrew Dowler, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...an okay romantic comedy whose romance is formulaic and whose humour peaks at the one-hour mark with a visit to a pitch-black restaurant."(See all of Andrew Dowler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 148 words, 01/28/10
KEY CITIES (9 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: POOR(cg) "The problem is not the credulity-stretching script. Or even that much of the movie just isn't all that funny. The problem is that it thinks it's freakin' hilarious."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 512 words, 01/29/10
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: WEAK(cg) "Bell and Duhamel make a cuddlesome pair, but the film's loony screenplay is more interested in slamming them on their backsides than fizzing up the chemistry..."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 576 words, 01/29/10
Kara Nesvig, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Duhamel is astoundingly attractive, and while he doesn't show off any real depth, when he's offscreen you wish he'd come back."(See all of Kara Nesvig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 422 words, 01/29/10
Janice Page, Boston Globe: POOR(cg) "...forgettable... wastes the time and talents of its veteran supporting players, including Anjelica Huston, Don Johnson, and Peggy Lipton. The result is a predictable mess."(See all of Janice Page's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 512 words, 01/29/10
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: MODERATE(cg) "Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel are rather sweet together.... featherweight, but often harmlessly cute -- and, for a rom-com, sometimes that's enough."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 423 words, 01/29/10
Tom Long, Detroit News: MODERATE(cg) "A brainless, fizzy, romantic-comedy fairy tale with a roster of acting talent far beyond expectations... manages to almost charm at times despite its silly premise..."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 366 words, 01/29/10
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "Kristen Bell brings enough effervescence to the film that she's able to spark believable chemistry with a usual dud like Josh Duhamel..."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 201 words, 01/27/10
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: POOR(cg) "It's a place where all the situations, characters, and dialogue are drawn so broadly, the script must have been written with a paint roller."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 440 words, 01/28/10
Andrew Dowler, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...an okay romantic comedy whose romance is formulaic and whose humour peaks at the one-hour mark with a visit to a pitch-black restaurant."(See all of Andrew Dowler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 148 words, 01/28/10
Debbie Michaud, Atlanta Creative Loafing: WEAK(cg) "Bell has some good comedic chops, but the wit surrounding her budding love with Nick is undermined by the bizarro courting rituals of her four suitors."(See all of Debbie Michaud's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 641 words, 02/01/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: WEAK "There are slapstick gags that fizzle and misfire... dull stabs at verbal wit that leave you baffled, bored or slightly grossed out."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 800 words, 01/29/10
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "I enjoyed the end-credits... But director Mark Steven Johnson does not make the pre-end-credits part of the movie, otherwise known as 'the movie,' much fun at all."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 425 words, 01/29/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Joe Leydon, Daily Variety: GOOD "...predictable but pleasant... Mark Steven Johnson ('Daredevil,' 'Simon Birch') maintains a light, bright tone, balancing broad comedy with romantic longing..."(See all of Joe Leydon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 745 words, 01/28/10
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "I enjoyed the end-credits... But director Mark Steven Johnson does not make the pre-end-credits part of the movie, otherwise known as 'the movie,' much fun at all."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 425 words, 01/29/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: WEAK "There are slapstick gags that fizzle and misfire... dull stabs at verbal wit that leave you baffled, bored or slightly grossed out."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 800 words, 01/29/10
18.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
When in Rome's reviews are separated by an average 18.2 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.
When in Rome (31 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:When in Rome's reviews cover 61.7% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 14,061 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 454 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
When in Rome Coverage, Volume & Length (31 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 35.2 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
When in Rome's reviews on average broke 35.2 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 When in Rome's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
When in Rome (31 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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