Broken English
Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: June 22, 2007 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
61
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews
Positive:
19
Mixed:
8
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Miami HeraldPeter Debruge
Broken English takes 30 minutes to do what most romantic comedies manage with a simple montage. That's a good thing, by the way. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
As charmingly verklemmt New York women with bad luck in men and good luck in apartments go, Nora Wilder in Broken English has all the breaks. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer
A pleasantly disposable romantic comedy starring the once and future indie-queen Parker Posey. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
As a director, Cassavetes is a keen observer of character and social interaction but not yet much of a visual stylist (which might also describe the improvisational dramas made by her actor/director father, John). Read full review
75
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
The movie needs more incident and complication; it's modest to a fault. Read full review
70
VarietyDennis Harvey
A pitch-perfect lead performance by Parker Posey and debuting feature writer-helmer Zoe Cassavetes' deft, low-key approach raise Broken English a couple notches above the usual run of lonely-single-woman-seeking-romance-in-the-big-city yarns. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesCarina Chocano
A wry, charming romance about a New York woman who has given up hope of finding love. Read full review
70
The New York TimesMatt Zoller Seitz
A well-acted, smartly directed film that’s depressing because it could have amounted to so much more. It departs from the studio-financed romantic-comedy template in just one, unfortunately fatal respect: it makes a point of pride out of rejecting cliché, then swoons into its embrace. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck
Demonstrating that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, the screenwriter-director has delivered a well-observed film boasting highly realistic performances and dialogue, if not plot elements. But it's Posey's fascinating portrayal of a thirtysomething Manhattan single woman looking for love that lifts the film above its "Sex and the City" predictabilities. Read full review
67
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
There's not a lot of story here and the dialogue lacks the snap one usually gets in New York stories of affluent young adults, but the characters have an authenticity. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
This movie belongs to Posey, and her nuanced performance makes Broken English a worthy adventure. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
It's the kind of film that will resonate only with a tiny fraction of the available audience. Unless a viewer's age and situation mirrors that of Posey's Nora Wilder, odds are that this movie will generate a sense of déjà vu. Read full review
63
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
For all its impeccable indie credibility, writer-director Zoe Cassavetes' bittersweet romance is little more than a hipster chick flick in which the same old smart women make the usual foolish choices. Read full review
63
New York PostLou Lumenick
Posey is a delight throughout, and Zoe Cassavetes is clearly a filmmaker to watch. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Both neurotic and endearing, it's so carefully accessorized you may not even notice that, at heart, it's a standard-issue romantic comedy. Read full review
63
PremiereGlenn Kenny
It's the stuff of countless advice columns, daytime talk shows, sitcoms, romantic comedies. Quite frankly, it's tired. What makes a difference here -- although really not enough of one -- is the people. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeTy Burr
A conventional New York-lonely hearts story made watchable by one element and one element only: Parker Posey. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
Cassavetes, who wrote the script, proves her skill with actors in this woozy push-and-pull of slurred compliments and shaky hopes for whatever lies beyond the next day. Read full review
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
There is a very good movie named "Before Sunset" that begins more or less where this one ends. Which tells you something right there. Read full review
60
Film ThreatJamie Tipps
What began as an interesting character study ends in convention, offering only the most clichéd platitudes in summation. You can't find true love until you love yourself? Hasn't Dr. Phil been telling us that for years? Read full review
60
Village VoiceMichelle Orange
Posey remains touching as the woman with happiness in sight but bewilderingly out of reach. Read full review
60
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
Despite its schizophrenic nature and often disagreeable characteristics, Broken English has flashes of something. You might say it has an integrity of purpose, if not of execution. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubNoel Murray
Given the gift of Posey at the peak of her powers, Cassavetes squanders her star in low-key, go-nowhere conversations, shot without flair and drained of any improvisatory energy. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleRuthe Stein
Broken English doesn't break any code or offer original insights on the subject. But there's a spark whenever Posey and Poupaud are together. Read full review
50
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
If Broken English occasionally falls prey to a bit too much self-conscious lethargy, it's still a welcome chance to see Posey at her flighty, edgy best. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
How Posey's neurotic, self-destructive heroine finds her way to healing is the core of this generous film, whose moral is that happiness can't begin unless you're open to its possibility. Read full review
50
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
Almost nothing that's said or done here is convincing. And the energy is set at near-coma level. Read full review
More From This Movie

61 Critic Reviews

6.5 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL