Little Black Book
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: August 6, 2004 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
36
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
14
Negative:
14
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
Chicago TribuneRobert K. Elder
Though trailers for Little Black Book try to sell it as a zany romantic comedy, don't judge this book by its cover. Those who stick with it will be surprised and maybe even laugh in between a tear or two. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeJanice Page
Actually an above-average farce, at least as featherweight chick flicks go. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The long closing sequence is virtuoso, redefining what went before and requiring Murphy to become a more complex character than she gave any hint of in the opening scenes. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
This deviously funny comedy doubles as workplace satire and anthem to the American career woman. Read full review
67
Portland OregonianKaren Karbo
Still, given the fact that it's August, you could do worse than hide out from the heat with the cute-as-a-bug Murphy, who manages to be funny and entertaining despite the material. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
A teen comedy that possesses a wickedly satirical streak. Read full review
60
EmpireHelen O'Hara
Yeah. Light and fluffy it may be, but this is undeniably entertaining stuff. Read full review
58
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
The result is a film with an identity crisis, a fluffy romantic farce that gets progressively darker, more destructive and finally so downright demented that the featherweight story line is crushed under the weight of brutal, unpleasant truth. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Casual moviegoers looking for a bubbly romantic comedy with Brittany Murphy will get more than they bargained for in Little Black Book, which builds to a nasty twist that's more Lars von Trier than Meg Ryan. Read full review
50
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Ron Livingstone plays his part relatively straight, and, as a result, comes out unscathed. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
A spicy critique of tabloid TV is buried in romantic-comedy material that strains too hard for cuteness. Ditto for Murphy's acting. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldConnie Ogle
Together (Hunter/Murphy) they're actually sort of fun to watch, and it's amusing to realize, not quite halfway through the film, that its most potent chemistry exists between them. Read full review
50
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
A screechy chick-flick relationship comedy with a lot of things working for and against it - mostly against it. Read full review
50
New York PostMegan Lehmann
The jaw-droppingly nasty second act is intriguing, but it veers into territory so dark that it sucks the air out of the bouncy chick flick that surrounds it, making for one confused -- and confusing -- comedy. Read full review
50
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Hunter is far too talented to waste her time with such mediocre material, as is co-star Kathy Bates, who plays Kippie Kann, an overbearing talk-show host. Read full review
40
VarietyScott Foundas
Lacks so much as a single fresh idea; it lacks an entertaining way of presenting its stale ideas, too. Read full review
40
The New York TimesStephen Holden
Offering few laughs and a climactic scene of breathtaking cruelty, this plot-heavy movie, directed by Nick Hurran from a screenplay by Melissa Carter and Elisa Bell, draws you into its malignant force field against your will. Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesKevin Crust
It's an irrefutably bad movie, littered with paper-thin characters, crummy dialogue and a mawkish undercurrent that wells up any time it starts to resemble something smarter and snappier. Yet it is somehow redeemed by Murphy's agreeably quirky performance in a horribly underwritten role. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineAngel Cohn
Even the inclusion of Simon's classic songs isn't enough to solve all the problems of this comedic misfire. Read full review
38
PremiereNicole Perri
Overall, Little Black Book is the cinematic equivalent of chic lit--mildly amusing, but completely forgettable once you're done with it. Read full review
38
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Looking for plausibility in a farce is like looking for a million dollars in a box of breakfast cereal, but elements of real life can make a comedy resonate instead of thud. Little Black Book does the latter. Read full review
38
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jason Anderson
The finale just seems hypocritical, even nonsensical in a comedy that derives its few laughs from a farting dog and an accidental gynecological exam. This book is better left closed. Read full review
30
L.A. WeeklyChuck Wilson
Screenwriters Melissa Carter and Erica Bell (Sleepover) have given Murphy -- perhaps the twitchiest actor of her generation --cutesy quirks to play in lieu of a character. Read full review
30
Washington PostSara Gebhardt
It's not well scripted enough or well acted enough to do much of anything, save make anyone watching really hate Brittany Murphy for being so annoying. Read full review
30
Wall Street JournalJoanne Kaufman
"Working Girl," is also heard in Little Black Book; it serves only to remind audiences of that far more winning story of triumph in the office. But there are many reminders of what a tiresome effort this is.
30
SalonStephanie Zacharek
The movie can't distinguish between what's likable and human and funny and what's simply repellent. In that respect, it's just as indiscriminate as the reality TV it shakes its finger at. Read full review
30
Village VoiceBen Kenigsberg
A mondo product placement in search of a screenplay, the conscious "Working Girl" homage Little Black Book makes the mistake of banking on Brittany Murphy, a Melanie Griffith look-alike with none of Griffith's gawky charms. Read full review
25
Entertainment WeeklyScott Brown
The big climax isn't climactic, just hysterical and incoherent. Murphy, with her bug-eyed, love-me mugging, is simply too slight and gawky to play the Everygirl. Read full review
25
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Here's a comedy of punishing tedium that pretends to be hip when it's so five minutes ago. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleCarla Meyer
An awkward and aggressively unfunny film. Read full review
20
Dallas ObserverRobert Wilonsky
It's a self-satisfied, self-loathing mess that demands you adore and cheer for the very person you come to hate well before its 105 minutes are up. Little Black Book will leave you feeling skuzzy. Read full review
20
Washington PostStephen Hunter
If you think it's worth it to sit there for 97 minutes for three or possibly four laughs, then you are beyond help. Read full review
11
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
Little Black Book isn't your run-of-the-mill romantic comedy – it's much worse – and, rather disgustingly, the devils on earth it unmasks are all female and vindictive. Read full review
More From This Movie

36 Critic Reviews

8.4 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 71 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL