Poetic Justice

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: July 23, 1993

CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION

51	METASCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

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Critic Reviews

Critic score Publication By date

Desson Howe

Often graceful, sometimes brilliant, Poetic is an absorbing, amusing symphony of sound and image; it also gives equal weight to its male and female characters. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Poetic Justice is not ["Boyz N the Hood's"] equal, but does not aspire to be; it is a softer, gentler film, more of a romance than a commentary on social conditions. Read full review

Edward Guthmann

It's safe, and it's smart, and even though it's lightweight compared to "Boyz" and bound to disappoint a lot of Singleton's admirers, Justice demonstrates that Singleton is more than a one-shot wonder. [23 Jul 1993]

Robert Faires

Subtitled “A Street Romance,” writer-director Singleton's sophomore effort touches the heart more when it's on the street than when it's making romance. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Some of Poetic Justice is quite good, if unspectacular, and the dialogue has a consistent ring of truth. Read full review

Peter Travers

If Singleton, 25, stumbles, it is over ambition and not the complacency of a new Hollywood hotshot riding a trend. Read full review

Jay Carr

While it's altogether smaller in its ambitions and achievements than Singleton's terrific "Boyz N the Hood," it at least allows Janet Jackson to emerge as a sympathetic presence, more credible than most pop singers making movie debuts. [23 July 1993]

Mike Clark

John Singleton's bizarre but viewable Boyz N the Hood follow-up is surprisingly gooey going. [23 Jul 1993]

Vincent Canby

Although its aspirations are high, the film works only fitfully when Mr. Singleton exercises his gift for vernacular speech, for finding the comic undertow in otherwise tragic situations, and even for parody. Read full review

Leonard Klady

Poetic Justice is a hermetic inner-city love story elevated by resonant social commentary. Read full review

Hal Hinson

It's more a brave movie than it is a good one, but at least Singleton has faced the unknown. And he deserves credit for the attempt. Read full review

David Sterritt

Its ambitious aims are commendable in themselves, but regrettable since they overinflate what might have been a simpler and better film. Read full review

TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)

Overall, this is a fuzzy, unfocused drama that bites off more than it can chew, or viewers can digest. Read full review

Rick Groen

Poetic Justice is like that - so much worse than it should have been, and yet, for brief shining moments, so much better than any other 2-star film in sight. [23 July 1993]

William Arnold

Poetic Justice is much more self-indulgent and self-consciously arty and shows [Singleton's] directorial inexperience in almost every scene. [23 Jul 1993]

Owen Gleiberman

With Poetic Justice, John Singleton has (at least temporarily) lost his way, but he may have found an actor [Shakur] who can help lead him back. Read full review

Kristi Turnquist

An ambitious but shapeless mix of road movie, romance and critique of black male-female relationships. [23 Jul 1993]

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Though it's not unlikable, John Singleton's second feature ("Boyz N the Hood" was his first) is an unholy mess in almost every respect. Read full review

EmpireAngie Errigo

Made more than two years ago, this is nowhere near as well thought out as its predecessor ["Boyz N The Hood,"] and is far more strained in making its point. Read full review

Richard Schickel

What must be said is that the new movie is simply awful: poorly structured, vulgarly written, insipidly directed, monotonously performed. Read full review