A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: November 22, 2019

7.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 200 Ratings

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User Reviews

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KeithDowNov 25, 2019

Let's just lay these bones bare: it's not that 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' is a particularly bad movie, it's just that it's unnecessary.

For those of us who live online-which is most of us, honestly-we all know that people likeLet's just lay these bones bare: it's not that 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' is a particularly bad movie, it's just that it's unnecessary.

For those of us who live online-which is most of us, honestly-we all know that people like Fred Rogers and Bob Ross have seen a resurgence in their popularity lately due to their wholesome nature and have subsequently been canonized for sainthood by the online community.

Partly as a result, director Morgan Neville began assembling the Fred Rogers documentary ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ well ahead of the film’s 2018 release. It played at Sundance on January 19th. On January 29th, it was announced that TriStar Pictures had bought the worldwide distribution rights for the source material that would eventually become 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.' See what we’re getting at?

So 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' is essentially redundant and as is the case with any facsimile, the quality just isn’t as sharp. Our recommendation? Save your money and stream ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ instead.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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knissenNov 22, 2019

The documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" was much better. Like "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," it explored where the line was between Mr. Rogers' character and Mr. Rogers the real person and whether or not that hokey touchy-feelyThe documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" was much better. Like "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," it explored where the line was between Mr. Rogers' character and Mr. Rogers the real person and whether or not that hokey touchy-feely persona could be authentic. But in the documentary, that exploration felt charming and nostalgic and hopeful. It also went beyond Rogers as a cartoon character and showed his political activism. In the fictionalized version, both Mr. Rogers and the movie itself came across as cloying and silly and boring. I love Tom Hanks, who doesn't, but this portrayal was rather comical. The real Mr. Rogers was childlike; Hank's portrayed him as a child. In this film version, we saw how Mr. Rogers touched one person and it felt a little like "who cares;" in the doc, we got to see how Rogers inspired so many -- it was just more impactful and moving. Chops, though, to some of the creative and artistic elements in the movie, like the recreated neighborhoods; that aspect actually elevated the experience from dull to watchable.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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TVJerryNov 29, 2019

First off, I was never a fan of Mister Rogers (we were a Sesame Street household), but I don't think that affected my opinion of this deadly dull film (I gave 4 stars to last year's doc about him). Secondly, this is NOT a biopic, but aFirst off, I was never a fan of Mister Rogers (we were a Sesame Street household), but I don't think that affected my opinion of this deadly dull film (I gave 4 stars to last year's doc about him). Secondly, this is NOT a biopic, but a singular story about how a dour, cynical writer for Esquire learned to open his heart after his encounters with the famous TV star. Tom Hanks plays Rogers with a bland sweetness that rarely captures the warmth of Rogers. This whole affair feels like a Hallmark special with overcharged emotions and predictable dramatic developments. The pacing echoes the pacing on Rogers' show… glacial. The "cute" framing of this true story as a Mister Rogers' Neighborhood episode was an original approach, but it couldn't elevate the plodding treacle of this tribute.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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electronicoffeeNov 27, 2019

KNISSEN already hit the 2-3 points I was going to make. "knissenNov 22, 2019
The documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" was much better. Like "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," it explored where the line was between Mr. Rogers' characterKNISSEN already hit the 2-3 points I was going to make. "knissenNov 22, 2019
The documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" was much better. Like "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," it explored where the line was between Mr. Rogers' character and Mr. Rogers the real person and whether or not that hokey touchy-feely persona could be authentic. But in the documentary, that exploration felt charming and nostalgic and hopeful. It also went beyond Rogers as a cartoon character and showed his political activism. In the fictionalized version, both Mr. Rogers and the movie itself came across as cloying and silly and boring. I love Tom Hanks, who doesn't, but this portrayal was rather comical. The real Mr. Rogers was childlike; Hank's portrayed him as a child. In this film version, we saw how Mr. Rogers touched one person and it felt a little like "who cares;" in the doc, we got to see how Rogers inspired so many -- it was just more impactful and moving. Chops, though, to some of the creative and artistic elements in the movie, like the recreated neighborhoods; that aspect actually elevated the experience from dull to watchable."… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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tropicAcesNov 23, 2019

Hanks is subtle and great, even when some of the film’s creative choices are obvious and distracting.

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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JLuis_001Dec 11, 2019

I feel that I'm missing something here but sincerely I just think that beyond the excellent performance of Tom Hanks this film seemed quite common to me.

There's quality on it I don't deny that, it works great as a feel-good film, which itI feel that I'm missing something here but sincerely I just think that beyond the excellent performance of Tom Hanks this film seemed quite common to me.

There's quality on it I don't deny that, it works great as a feel-good film, which it is but in the whole background it never stopped feeling like an ordinary drama.

It's undeniable that it's worth the time invested to watch Tom Hanks' work and because as I said the film has quality but I think that many of the good reviews it received from the press were overflowed more by the love and figure of Fred Rogers.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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sadamo1Dec 1, 2020

Not a bad movie but surprised that this movie received so much acclaim. Tom Hanks is great but this movie is more obvious than a Hallmark movie. I was surprised to find out this isn't a movie about Mr. Rogers' life. My mistake although INot a bad movie but surprised that this movie received so much acclaim. Tom Hanks is great but this movie is more obvious than a Hallmark movie. I was surprised to find out this isn't a movie about Mr. Rogers' life. My mistake although I try to avoid trailers and reading about movies as then the movie is usually spoiled.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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BulgarianCriticOct 10, 2020

To be fair I have not grown with watching Mr.Roger's so I do not know him as a person or a show host. Unfortunately for me the movie was pretty boring and really really really slow.Won't you be neighbor for me is the more interesting andTo be fair I have not grown with watching Mr.Roger's so I do not know him as a person or a show host. Unfortunately for me the movie was pretty boring and really really really slow.Won't you be neighbor for me is the more interesting and really well done movie about the Tv Persona and the Real Mr.Rogers that respects its viewers time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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cdobrosemdFeb 23, 2020

I was misled to believe this film is biographical but it is almost entirely a fiction that just uses Fred Rogers as a character. The movie is quite dark for the most part, using the Fred Rogers character as the foil to its general theme. ItI was misled to believe this film is biographical but it is almost entirely a fiction that just uses Fred Rogers as a character. The movie is quite dark for the most part, using the Fred Rogers character as the foil to its general theme. It is not a movie I would ever watch a second time. On the other hand, Hanks is the greatest actor of his generation and turns in a performance worthy of that reputation. Without him I would rate it a 2.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JordanLaytonApr 28, 2020

I liked this film, but I don't know if expectations are going to be met for audiences regarding the film's focus. They weren't for me. This is much more of a story about how Mr. Rogers affected Lloyd Vogel than it is about Mr. Rogers. InI liked this film, but I don't know if expectations are going to be met for audiences regarding the film's focus. They weren't for me. This is much more of a story about how Mr. Rogers affected Lloyd Vogel than it is about Mr. Rogers. In fact, I'd argue Tom Hanks is not even a co-lead in this film. Don't get me wrong, an interesting, if subtle, story is 1 told here and most people will walk out happy (myself included), but it is not what most will expect. I did like it fine, but I thought it was just okay. It was no "Won't You Be My Neighbor? "from last year. The story was just a bit too undramatic and (probably true to life to evoke the big feels I wanted from it. Ifs fine to tell an honest story, but to dramatize a true story for the big screen usually means you punch it up with some real drama. With this film, I didn't feel that work had been done. Now *that may be a choice that was made* because Mr. Rogers was often quite subtle in how he conveyed stories and messages, bui the result here was just a bit too "meh" for me. Still, there was one moment in the film that will stick with me as something I've never seen a film do before and that had a real effect on myself and, seemingly, the audience I was in. So there's some good and some 1 bad here. I won't be revisiting it. Recommend if you 4 are a Mr. Rogers fan (who isn't?) and are okay with it 4 not quite being a film *about* Fred Rogers.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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