Other People
Vertical Entertainment | Release Date: September 9, 2016 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
16
Mixed:
8
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinSep 8, 2016
Emotions run deep and wide here; anyone who’s ever lost a parent, longed for love and acceptance, or tried to find his or her true self should easily relate. It’s a terrific film. Read full review
88
Chicago TribuneKatie WalshSep 8, 2016
The moments between mother and son are some of the most intimate and moving of the film. Read full review
88
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperSep 8, 2016
Some movies swing for the fences — and either strike out in big-budget, spectacular fashion, or hit a home run. Others, such as the smart, lovely, funny, occasionally edgy, slightly cynical and ultimately heart-tugging Other People, are the equivalent of the singles hitter in baseball — content to accumulate one small and legitimate successful moment after another. Read full review
80
The GuardianNigel M SmithJan 31, 2016
It’s Shannon who leaves the most lasting impression.... She effortlessly mines the material for all its uncomfortable laughs. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireSep 13, 2016
You’ve seen this movie before. You’ve seen it in the past month, actually: It was called “The Hollars,” directed by and starring John Krasinski. But while that film hit every clichéd note you’d expect, despite its good intentions and great ensemble cast, Other People breathes new life into the formulaic, dark comedy about death. Read full review
75
The Seattle TimesTom KeoghSep 9, 2016
A number of Kelly’s scenes play out like stand-alone sketches — some quite funny; not all of them essential — rather than parts of a whole. But that’s easily forgiven considering the candor of his insights and his strong cast. Read full review
75
New York PostKyle SmithSep 8, 2016
Deeply personal screenwriting and a superlative performance by Molly Shannon as a dying mom lift Other People above the level of many similar tragedy-inflected indie comedies. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyChris NashawatySep 8, 2016
Somehow, almost miraculously, Shannon makes her character become stronger as she gets weaker. It’s a wonderful performance. Read full review
75
The Film StageEd FranklFeb 11, 2016
Kelly’s earnest, reportedly auto-biographical film has a lot of laughs and is best when it’s most deeply personal. Read full review
70
Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzSep 8, 2016
Other People has its flaws, certainly, but when Kelly focuses more on the characters than their quirks, it’s an effective look at life and death. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeJan 31, 2016
Kelly depicts a deep filial love that isn't dependent on complete telepathic understanding. Read full review
70
Screen DailyTim GriersonJan 31, 2016
Small moment by small moment, Other People turns Kelly’s own experiences caring for his mother into something touchingly universal. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleKimberley JonesSep 14, 2016
Other People is gentle, heartfelt, and of a delicate build. Kelly’s best observations are small but true: the touching banality of a bad pop song, and that “other people” is in fact most people, if you’re paying attention. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubA.A. Dowd Sep 7, 2016
What keeps Kelly honest is the wealth of authentic detail he sprinkles throughout. Read full review
63
Washington PostAlan ZilbermanSep 8, 2016
All of the actors are pitch-perfect. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineKeith WatsonSep 6, 2016
The film is at its sharpest when Chris Kelly hands scenes over to his main character's family and friends. Read full review
60
The New York TimesDaniel M. GoldSep 8, 2016
Other People tries to lighten its heavy load with mixed results. Read full review
60
Village VoiceNick SchagerSep 8, 2016
Despite a strong sense of its characters, however, Kelly rarely generates much melodramatic or amusing momentum. Read full review
60
Time OutJoshua RothkopfSep 6, 2016
Raw, messy and unkempt (as a domestic cancer drama should be), Saturday Night Live writer Chris Kelly’s feature debut is also a woe-is-me gay rom-com, a showdown between siblings and—at its best—an out-and-proud minimusical. If that sounds like too much, it is. Read full review
60
VarietyJustin ChangJan 31, 2016
While Chris Kelly’s semi-autobiographical writing-directing debut gets off to a painfully broad start, it does intermittently find its footing as it progresses, gathering enough well-observed moments and details to counterbalance its otherwise flailing stabs at humor and pathos. Read full review
58
The PlaylistNoel MurrayJan 31, 2016
The end result is awfully sketchy, more a collection of ideas and memories than a proper film. Read full review
58
ConsequenceJustin GerberJan 31, 2016
The performances are so strong in Other People that they just about make up for the weak storytelling. Maybe “weak” isn’t the best definition for writer/director Chris Kelly’s debut feature film, but its structure definitely pales in comparison to all the effort given on screen. Read full review
50
Movie NationRoger MooreJun 12, 2018
It’s worthwhile enough to justify the film being made, but just barely. Read full review
40
ScreenCrushE. Oliver WhitneyJan 31, 2016
Kelly’s generic characters, stale humor, and dated storyline about the macho father rejecting his gay son have all been done before, and no longer feel relevant. Read full review
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