Big Fat Liar
Universal Pictures | Release Date: February 8, 2002 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
36
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
9
Negative:
10
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Fresh-faced leads Muniz and Bynes are charmers, Giamatti makes Wolf into a splendidly loathsome adversary, and the film is refreshingly free of bodily function jokes. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneRobert K. Elder
Plays so flat, so to close its "movie message" formula, that it seems as if we've seen this movie before. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
Big Fat Liar becomes a progression of increasingly elaborate slapstick stunts, in the brutal, noisy "Home Alone" vein, in which the complexity of the pranks rarely yields a commensurate comic reward. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
The result is a children's movie that's almost worth seeing even when not accompanied by a child. It's certainly a painless experience, and at times it's quite funny. Read full review
50
The New York TimesStephen Holden
If Ms. Bynes keeps going in this direction, she can conceivably develop a gallery of characters as rich and varied as Tracey Ullman's. Read full review
50
SalonDamien Cave
Generally succeeds. But with just a bit more effort the movie might have been funnier and a lot more fun. Read full review
50
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Not so admirably, the film feels at times like a giant commercial for Universal Studios. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
The movie scores some laughs, all of which come from the expert Giamatti. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesJan Stuart
Screenwriter Dan Schneider and director Shawn Levy substitute volume and primary colors for humor and bite. Granted, it's a kids' flick, but kids today have enough savvy about the movie industry to report for Variety. Read full review
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