Playing with Fire
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: November 8, 2019 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
24
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
5
Negative:
10
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
IGNJenna BuschNov 7, 2019
The comedy is broad and slapstick, but ultimately the film is heartwarming and lovely. You’ll find yourself laughing in spite of your initial reaction to the goofiness of the premise. It’s also a fun way to spend an afternoon with the kids. Read full review
50
Film ThreatAlan NgNov 8, 2019
Key, Leguizamo, Greer, and Haysbert actually look like their having a good time and investing their acting talent in this silly story without flinching. No one’s phoning it in. John Cena is just a little too cartoony in his straight-laced character and somehow manages to make “normal” feel over-the-top. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubJesse HassengerNov 7, 2019
It’s more tedious than unwatchable, and pint-size Cena fans may be curious to see him in a movie more compatible with his Kids’ Choice Awards hosting gigs than the likes of "Blockers" or "Trainwreck." Sadly, the movie never shows similar curiosity about what its young audience, and subjects, might be thinking or feeling. Read full review
40
The GuardianPeter BradshawDec 23, 2019
The whole thing is shot and lit in that dull flat way that is mandatory for Hollywood family comedies, and the script is mainly dull, though I concede Key has some nice lines as he gets cross with Brynn’s sarcastic attitude. Read full review
40
The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckNov 7, 2019
Playing With Fire strikes strictly predictably beats. Key and Leguizamo, comic talents who are wildly overqualified for this sort of thing, work hard, very hard, to infuse the tired material with laughs. But they're mostly hamstrung by their one-note characters Read full review
40
The New York TimesTeo BugbeeNov 7, 2019
It’s an unchallenging movie, but as far as unchallenging kids movies go, the actors ensure this one doesn’t fall into soullessness. Read full review
38
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Sarah HagiNov 7, 2019
As Playing With Fire progressed, it became increasingly clear that the target audience was not respected. This was made by people who seem to think kids are stupid. Read full review
37
Washington PostJane HorwitzNov 5, 2019
With horrific wildfires scorching California, the timing of this firefighter comedy also seems off. It might inspire empathy, if only it were actually funny. Read full review
30
VarietyOwen GleibermanNov 7, 2019
Playing with Fire . . . is a barely glorified sitcom made in the overlit and benignly smart-mouth Nickelodeon house style. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshNov 7, 2019
Fickman’s directing is uninspired at best, barely competent at worst. The framing and composition is dire; there’s no sense of rhythm or flow, and characters constantly appear and disappear at random. But it’s the writing that truly fails the film and characters. Read full review
25
New York PostJohnny OleksinskiNov 7, 2019
Director Andy Fickman (“Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”) favors poop jokes and the cringe-humor of watching little kids court danger with a nail gun, kerosene, an ax and sometimes literally fire. Read full review
25
Movie NationRoger MooreNov 7, 2019
Every wrinkle in the plot is nakedly contrived, an obvious screenplay convenience. Every gag is given away. Every one-liner vanishes into the void. Kids may love projectile poop gags, but even they should be able to smell the odor Playing with Fire puts out there. Read full review
20
The Observer (UK)Wendy IdeDec 29, 2019
This is beyond inept. Read full review
15
TheWrapYolanda MachadoNov 7, 2019
The film is bland and predictable, underestimates kids’ abilities to understand story and humor, and relies way too much on sight gags that are clichéd and overdone. Read full review
12
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireNov 8, 2019
Playing With Fire tries to be tasteless and crass but also treacly and cheery. It wants to you go: “Ewwww …,” but also: “Awwww ...” You’re more likely to groan, then look at your watch again. Read full review
0
Austin ChronicleSteve DavisNov 6, 2019
This mirthless comedy about a manly crew of smokejumpers helplessly babysitting a trio of rescued brats has more dead air in it than a radio broadcast hosted by a narcoleptic disc jockey. Read full review
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