Family Fundamentals
Release Date: October 11, 2002 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
68
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Film ThreatPhil Hall
The result is a mature, graceful and extraordinary accomplishment. Read full review
83
Seattle Post-IntelligencerPaula Nechak
Compassionate, potent documentary. Read full review
75
New York PostV.A. Musetto
Dong, who is gay, does his best to stay objective. Just how these families interact may surprise you. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
The film discusses important social and personal issues, although the interview subjects don't always have enlightening things to say. Read full review
70
Village VoiceMelissa Anderson
Compassionately explores the seemingly irreconcilable situation between conservative Christian parents and their estranged gay and lesbian children. Read full review
70
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
Dong shows how intolerance has the power to deform families, then tear them apart. At 75 minutes, the film is too short; each story deserves a full hour of its own. Read full review
70
L.A. WeeklyErnest Hardy
It's potentially strong material, but the film is so determined not to demonize the conservatives that it winds up being an inadvertent profile in the banality of bigotry. Read full review
70
VarietyDennis Harvey
Docmeister Arthur Dong brings empathetic balance and emotional heft to the discord between fundamentalist Christian parents and their gay children. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
The film is somewhat hampered by the refusal of the parents in two of the three families to participate in it. Though the children provide an eloquent, impassioned presence, their parents' absence is overwhelming. Read full review
60
The New York TimesLawrence Van Gelder
An earnest study in despair. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleCarla Meyer
Earnest, heartrending look at the divide between religious fundamentalists and their gay relatives. It's also heavy-handed and devotes too much time to bigoted views. Read full review
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