Iron Will

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: January 14, 1994

CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION

56	METASCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

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Critic Reviews

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Roger Ebert

Iron Will is an Identikit plot, put together out of standard pieces. Even the scenery looks generic; there's none of the majesty of Disney's genuinely inspired dog movie, "White Fang." Read full review

Janet Maslin

Despite this lively history, the material seldom rises above the level of upbeat platitudes. Read full review

Joe Leydon

A seamless albeit frequently cornball scenario. Read full review

TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)

So pleased is this film with its own sanctimony that children forced to sit through it may end up joining gangs, defacing the walls at Bible school, and questioning their parents' sincerity. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Iron Will's presentation of family values and reliance upon formulas are distinctive. The film has enough action to keep it from becoming boring, but there are too many flaws for this to be considered anything more grand than adequate entertainment. Read full review

Stephen Hunter

It's a rugged, almost chauvinistic celebration of American get-up-and-go that never acknowledges, even implicitly, that our get-up-and-go got up and went. It might be characterized by words begin with G: gusto, guts, gumption, gee whiz and gosharootie, though, er, never G-spot. [14 Jan 1994]

William Arnold

And Mackenize Astin (brother of Sean, son of John Astin and Patty Duke) is so likable in this part that his modest success here may represent the advent of a new acting dynasty in Hollywood. [14 Jan 1994]

Rick Groen

The dogs and the snow and the flag-waving and the choo-choos are all reduced to TV-sized portions. Just as well, I suppose - think of it as audio-visual aerobics, forced training for next month's big bout in our living-rooms. [14 Jan 1994]

David Sterritt

The story is shamelessly corny, and grown-ups will groan at its cliches. It's vividly filmed and energetically acted, though, so youngsters new to outdoor-adventure movies should find it tremendously exciting. [14 Jan 1994, p.13]