Mr. Jealousy

A deceptively light and impeccably structured comedy that owes a clear cinematic debt to others -- Ernst Lubitsch, Woody Allen and Whit Stillman among them -- yet still manages to speak with a fresh and distinctive voice. [21 Aug. 1998, p.D4]

Its easygoing and engaging quality masks how rare an accomplishment it is to create something achingly true as well as amusing, as wise about people as it is about the craft of film. Read full review

Baumbach's best trait as a filmmaker remains his handling of actors. Read full review

While the plot suffers from a few sit-comish aspects and some dumbly juvenile joking around between Lester and his buddies, the film gains strength from small, nutty scenes, dead-on reactions and off-the-wall lines that almost seem improvised. Read full review

The climax is a little jiggy, almost stupid, given how sharp the dialogue and situations are until that point. It's as if Baumbach just ran out of steam. But given how much there is to like about the movie, its flaws are forgivable. Yes, it's a bit slow in places and talky but it's also funny. And much o f the humor is subtle and smart and nicely calibrated. [19 June 1998, p.E3]

The cast is appealing and much of the action is wryly amusing, although Baumbach borrows so many moves from Woody Allen and Francois Truffaut that their names should be in the credits. [5 June 1998]

The comedy of errors that ensues sometimes slides into Seinfeld territory -- not that there's anything wrong with that -- but the subtlety of the performances combined with graceful retro filmmaking touches and wry narration keep it well above sitcom level. [1 July 1998, p.2D]

As events in Mr. Jealousy grow more entangled, there is no corresponding escalation in the pace of the movie, and Baumbach misses out on some laughs...But Mr. Jealousy is one of those movies where the less assured passages are a good sign, the mark of a director trying something new. Read full review

The writer/director may have a deep understanding of his material, but Mr. Jealousy doesn't offer anything original or remarkable, and, while what the film is saying often strikes a responsive chord, that alone isn't enough to earn it an enthusiastic recommendation. Read full review

Mr. Jealousy isn't quite successful, but it does provide more evidence of Baumbach's talent. Read full review

The ensemble quality is high and likable, even if Baumbach's inventiveness as a writer falters after the film's sweet, savvy beginning. [12 June 1998]

The film, which is better written than staged, could have been funnier if its actors weren't playing against type. Read full review

Where the movie goes wrong is that it sets itself up as a study of a pathological personality but never delivers. Read full review

There is much of interest in Baumbach's pictures - the confident handling of actors, the introspection, the terra-cotta and teal-painted walls. But what do you call a comedy of manners that's not particularly funny? [19 June 1998, p.04]

As an ensemble comedy that at best is only firing on four cylinders at any given moment, Mr. Jealousy is a slight contrivance, one that dawdles around in your head for a brief while before vacating the area to make room for more pressing issues. Read full review

Disappointingly, all of "Jealousy's" promising narrative turns go nowhere. [3 July 1998, p.L28]

Have there ever been two less energetic stars than Eric Stoltz and Annabella Sciorra? Casting this diffident duo in an allegedly romantic comedy proves disastrous; they suck the air out of virtually every scene. Read full review