CJ7
Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: March 7, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
46
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews
Positive:
6
Mixed:
7
Negative:
5
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
L.A. WeeklyElla Taylor
This utterly beguiling foray into family comedy from Hong Kong director Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer) may be the tribute to Spielberg's "E.T. Extra-Terrestrial" the gleefully childlike filmmaker has had up his sleeve forever. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Kamal AL-Solaylee
If CJ7 feels like the love child of Charles Dickens, Mao Zedong and Steven Spielberg, it's because that's exactly what this PG-rated, Chinese-made fantasy is. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
CJ7 is precisely the 80-something minutes of delirium and cheesy special-effects you'd expect from the man responsible for the chaos of "Shaolin Soccer" and the lunacy of "Kung Fu Hustle." Read full review
70
The New York TimesJeannette Catsoulis
A devilishly entertaining curveball thrown at unsuspecting family audiences. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
C7J isn't as cutesy as "Batteries Not Included" or "Short Circuit," or as grim as "Gremlins," though it resembles them all in its jerky, semi-comic look at the havoc and helpfulness of weirdo artificial life. Read full review
63
PremiereGlenn Kenny
The overall feel is Hong Kong to the core…which means CJ7, like the first 25 minutes or so of "Shaolin Soccer," doesn't make many allowances to Western sensibilities. Read full review
50
VarietyRichard Kuipers
"E.T."-inspired comic fantasy about a poor boy adopting a cute alien catches the eye but not fully the heart with its undernourished father-son dynamics, critter hijinks and smattering of social commentary. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterMaggie Lee
A hyperactive, wishful-thinking special effects fantasy suitable for family outings. Read full review
50
New York PostLou Lumenick
Heavy on slapstick and may appeal to very young viewers who won't need to bother much with the subtitles. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen Johnson
A bit of a letdown. The manic comedian who has gained fans worldwide for his outrageous slapstick and special effects-driven antics in "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Shaolin Soccer" takes a backseat this time - and that's part of the problem: This is lesser Chow because there is less Chow. Read full review
50
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Its use of minor expletives and a depressing chapter late in the movie will not satisfy parents seeking something sweet and lively for their children; nor will it charm art house audiences up for a smart adult fairy tale. Read full review
50
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
Bright, bouncy, kooky and comically tone deaf, CJ7 is the most bizarre kids movie I've ever seen. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesKevin Crust
As clumsy and awkward as his previous films were stylishly silly. Read full review
38
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
CJ7 is roughly as grating as that “Flubber” remake. Read full review
33
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Trivial and charmless. Read full review
20
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
Chow's loyal fans are sure to be disappointed by CJ7, and the film faces one other significant problem in traveling to these shores: Any kid who is the right age to appreciate this pap is going to be too young to read subtitles. Read full review
8
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
It's awful. Awful. That's all. Keep walking. For the love of all that's holy. Keep. Walking. Read full review
0
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
You leave this movie feeling mugged. Read full review
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