Jiu Jitsu
| Release Date: November 20, 2020 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
27
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
3
Negative:
8
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
70
PolygonKeith PhippsNov 23, 2020
Though any Cage-free attempts at comedy fall flat, the action remains exciting, thanks in large part to Logothetis’ steady-handed, no-frills approach. Who knew putting together a bunch of gifted martial artists and letting them exercise those skills could take an action film so far? Read full review
60
IGNKristy PuchkoNov 19, 2020
The performances range from wooden Moussi to full-on Cage, so it's tonally all over the place. As a whole, it's an absolute mess, which makes it kind of perfect for 2020. Still, within this swamp of style, wildness, and TOO too much, there are some truly exhilarating treasures, chief among them Cage. In short, it's not good, but maybe being a lot just enough. Read full review
50
Wall Street JournalJohn AndersonNov 19, 2020
Jiu Jitsu is an ambitious undertaking in its way, one that will probably tickle hardcore martial-arts and samurai movie fans, although the attraction may be more academic than adrenaline-fueled. Read full review
40
The GuardianPeter BradshawDec 16, 2020
The entertainingly frazzled presence of Nicolas Cage provides a reason to pay some attention – but not much – to this otherwise uninspired and by-the-numbers martial-arts action-sci-fi crossover. Read full review
38
RogerEbert.comSimon AbramsNov 20, 2020
Jiu Jitsu is too disjointed and tame to be worth an impulse-rent; it's also too silly to be enjoyed with a straight face, and too lazy to be endearingly dopey. Read full review
38
Slant MagazineSteven ScaifeNov 16, 2020
Nicolas Cage’s amusing turn as a kooky hermit with an affinity for newspaper hats often feels awkwardly spliced into the film. Read full review
25
Original-CinThom ErnstJan 28, 2021
As flat and uncompelling as its title, Jiu Jitsu plays like a hybrid of rejected audition tapes from Predator with the outtakes from the fifth Highlander movie (and not the ones starring Christopher Lambert). But just how bad is Jiu Jitsu? Well, bad enough that the phrase “a waste of Nicolas Cage's talents” actually means something. Read full review
25
IndieWireTambay ObensonNov 20, 2020
If the overlong and often tedious brawls were at least believable and well-choreographed, maybe there would be something commendable and entertaining to be derived from the experience of watching the film. Read full review
25
Movie NationRoger MooreNov 17, 2020
The fights are reasonably well-choreographed, the stuntwork not totally obvious. The effects are adequate, there are half-assed “graphic novel” chapter breaks and titles — “The Rabbit,” and the like. The story? Strictly wakkie nunu. At least Cage is here for a few laughs. Read full review
20
Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovNov 19, 2020
Less a Nic Cage movie than a movie with an extended cameo by Nic Cage in a “finely crafted” paper hat (!), this Greek/Cypriot co-production mixes mediocre martial artistry with a sci-fi spin and ends up a puzzlement to both genres. Read full review
10
The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeNov 18, 2020
Monotonous, unimaginative actioner. Read full review
0
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleNov 18, 2020
Cage’s latest film, Jiu Jitsu must represent his career worst — and keep in mind, this is the man who made 1989’s “Vampire’s Kiss,” in which he ate a cockroach. Read full review
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