Measure of a Man
Great Point Media | Release Date: May 11, 2018 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
53
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
5
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Washington PostMichael O'SullivanMay 10, 2018
Although Measure of a Man is less gut-wrenching than director Jim Loach’s only previous theatrical film, “Oranges and Sunshine” — about the cruel fate of unwanted children shipped from England to Australia during the United Kingdom’s mid-20th-century “child migrant” program — the British filmmaker shows himself to have an affinity for tales of the abuse of power. Read full review
88
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperMay 10, 2018
It’s a sweet and knowing and lovely and funny story, but occasionally the spell of warm nostalgia is broken by painful moments of family heartbreak and cruel bullying. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliMay 9, 2018
Measure of a Man, the sophomore feature effort from British director Jim Loach (the son of the famed filmmaker Ken Loach), effectively captures this difficult-to-pin-down feeling with a largely unsentimental coming-of-age story based on Robert Lipsyte’s novel, “One Fat Summer.” Read full review
70
Village VoiceSerena DonadoniMay 10, 2018
The portentously titled Measure of a Man is at once an escapist fantasy and sensitive portrait of adolescent transformation. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenMay 9, 2018
While it might not bring much that's new to the coming-of-age playbook, British filmmaker Jim Loach's sensitively-observed dramedy, Measure of a Man, offers decisive proof that fresh and different is overrated when you've got a strong cast, a beautifully written script and fittingly measured direction. Read full review
50
The Film StageJared MobarakMay 10, 2018
Topics like sexual orientation, gentrification, feminism, rape culture, and adultery are introduced so superficially that the film would be doing better service to each by leaving them on the cutting room floor. It needs to either put more focus on Bobby or work harder at creating its ensemble. Existing in the middle as it does only leaves us wanting for more. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeMay 10, 2018
But the synthesis is underwhelming on screen where it might have resonated in Lipsyte's book. Here, Measure becomes a mildly nostalgic, mildly romantic entry in a genre that, more than most, requires that the viewer feels a personal connection to the misfit protagonist on screen. Read full review
50
Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzMay 10, 2018
The elements are in place for a decent little movie, but Loach overplays everything, offering nothing in the way of surprises. Bobby’s supposed transformation isn’t particularly revelatory, but then, neither is anything else. Read full review
50
Philadelphia Daily NewsGary ThompsonMay 10, 2018
While the movie serves as a pleasant piece of nostalgia, it’s not very deeply felt, and mostly serves to remind us of other, better movies that have covered similar territory, like Adventureland. Read full review
40
VarietyDennis HarveyMay 11, 2018
The conflicts come to no interesting fruition, and occasional comic flourishes (Bobby dancing to a “Soul Train” broadcast, vomiting after drinking alcohol) fall flat. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleMay 10, 2018
Measure of a Man is intended as a touching coming-of-age film about one crucial summer in a young man’s life. But it’s a movie of gestures and feints, in which we’re constantly being told of events and relationships rather than seeing or feeling them. Read full review
20
Austin ChronicleJosh KupeckiMay 9, 2018
Cooper acquits himself as the main character, but between the pratfall/character-building montages and the endless platitudes imparted by the wise, old mentor, Measure of a Man does him few favors, and the film becomes a tedious haul through to the redemptive third act. Read full review
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