Make Believe
Firefly Films | Release Date: May 13, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
59
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertMay 11, 2011
A charming documentary about the finalists in the Teenage Magician Contest at the annual World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinMay 28, 2011
The various sleights of hand are impressive even if we're afforded little insight into their actual execution. Still, it's fun stuff. Read full review
70
Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternMay 27, 2011
These talented, dedicated kids aren't making believe about anything - they're making art out of shimmering illusion, intricate manipulation and blithe misdirection. (In magic, as distinct from filmmaking, misdirection is a good thing.) Read full review
70
VarietyJohn AndersonMay 14, 2011
A charming, affectionate and often elegantly executed study of teenage magicians, their craft and the social shadows they step out of when they do their stuff. Read full review
70
The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerMay 12, 2011
The buildup to the actual competition is perfectly paced, with the film never tipping its hand as to the winner. And the championship has all the drama of a high-stakes sporting event: failure under pressure, unexpected triumph, gracious losers and winners both. Read full review
60
Boxoffice MagazineMark KeizerMay 17, 2011
Watching even the most tossed-off gag is worth whatever shortcomings Make Believe has, including its lack of real drama. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleJul 21, 2011
Structurally, this becomes a little monotonous because there's just no denying that some kids are more interesting than others. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderBen SachsMay 12, 2011
The movie owes more to reality TV than feature filmmaking, subordinating the various story lines to the simple question of who'll win the contest. Read full review
50
Village VoiceMichelle OrangeMay 10, 2011
The drama is merely serviceable until the last moment, when the winner makes the competition disappear. Read full review
40
Time OutEric HynesMay 10, 2011
First-time director J. Clay Tweel oversells the importance of both the Vegas event and of magic in general-you'd think he were filming a spiritual movement rather than hidden-ball tricks. His wide-eyed subjects do make magic happen-but that has less to do with illusion than innocence. Read full review
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