Paparazzi
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: September 3, 2004 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
38
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews
Positive:
0
Mixed:
13
Negative:
5
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
Film ThreatRick Kisonak
This is a film which resonates on a surprising number of levels. But the level on which it undoubtedly works best is the victim-goes-postal-and-takes-the-law-into-his-own-hands level. Read full review
60
Dallas ObserverLuke Y. Thompson
A surprisingly efficient B-grade revenge pic. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
It was shrewdly written by Forrest Smith and directed crisply by Paul Abascal (Gibson's onetime hairdresser) for maximum visceral impact upon the susceptible. Read full review
58
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
It doesn't take long for the film to devolve into a ludicrously far-fetched Celebrity Death Wish. Read full review
50
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
Paparazzi is for anyone who's ever wondered how good it would feel to knock down a photographer with his car and then back over him. Read full review
50
New York PostMegan Lehmann
A throwback to the kind of '80s action flicks that had titles like "Adrenaline Force," is enlivened by a raft of celebrity cameos, including a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance by Gibson. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
In essence this is a celebrity revenge fantasy, something few of us can relate to, but director Paul Abascal has the sense to keep the homilies short and the pacing fast. Read full review
40
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
First-time director Paul Abascal brings no style or personality to this B-movie exercise. Except for Farina, the actors go through the paces as if they too lack conviction in the proceedings. Read full review
40
The New York TimesDave Kehr
Amazingly arrogant, immoral film. Read full review
40
VarietyJoe Leydon
Visually uninspired and dramatically overheated, Paparazzi has overall look and feel of generic direct-to-video production. Read full review
40
Village VoiceBen Kenigsberg
Cookie-cutter "Cape Fear" knockoff. Read full review
40
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Paparazzi follows the vigilante playbook in all its banality, without much in the way of moral reflection. Read full review
40
L.A. WeeklyRobert Abele
In producer Mel Gibson's second crackpot persecution-complex film of 2004 -- heat-blast directed by first-timer Paul Abascal -- it's obvious who Bo is supposed to represent. Read full review
38
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
One has the sense that if the level of violence had been ratcheted up a little, Paparazzi might have been more of a guilty pleasure and less of a chore to watch. Read full review
38
PremierePeter Debruge
In the age of reality television, Paparazzi feels desperately out-of-touch, the jaded grousings of an industry burnout. Read full review
30
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
This mean-spirited revenge story would once have starred Cole Hauser's father, veteran B-movie psycho Wings Hauser, and played grindhouses and drive-ins. And it would have been a far more entertaining picture. Read full review
30
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
All this would be fine if the script by Forrest Smith had more wit and fewer clichés, or the direction by former makeup artist Abascal had more inventiveness. Read full review
25
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Stephen Cole
There is no energy here. No sense of movie invention or fun. Read full review
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