Presenting Princess Shaw
Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: May 27, 2016 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
77
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews
Positive:
17
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
New Orleans Times-PicayuneMike ScottJun 2, 2016
A winner, through and through. Read full review
91
IndieWireEric KohnMay 24, 2016
Thru You Princess develops a fairy tale quality that calls into question the nature of its production. However, the air of manipulation throughout the story only helps to pronounce its themes. Read full review
90
VarietyPeter DebrugeMay 24, 2016
That rare Princess whose wishes do come true, Montgomery’s what is known as a “genuine discovery.” Read full review
88
Boston GlobePeter KeoughJun 2, 2016
Just when you were about to give up on the Internet as a swamp full of trolls, bullies, and liars, along comes a documentary like Ido Haar’s Presenting Princess Shaw. Read full review
88
Miami HeraldRene RodriguezMay 24, 2016
The emotional connection we develop with her as the movie unfolds pays off in the final 20 minutes, which is about as happy of an ending as anyone could imagine, except this one really happened. Read full review
80
The New York TimesStephen HoldenMay 26, 2016
Yes, the documentary is undeniably uplifting. But … Read full review
80
The GuardianJordan HoffmanMay 24, 2016
Most people will find Thru You Princess inspirational. A few will find it infuriating. But that’s frequently the case with a good documentary. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterLeslie FelperinMay 24, 2016
Some viewers may feel a little uneasy watching her being almost "catfished" by the deception, even if it turns out to be a delightful surprise, and a real emotional money shot when it finally lands. Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleJosh KupeckiJun 1, 2016
Shaw works mostly because Samantha Montgomery is such a compelling and likable character, that you want – nay need – her to succeed, and that is Haar’s ace in the hole. Read full review
75
Washington PostStephanie MerryJun 2, 2016
It’s a lovely tale, even if it’s not quite the Cinderella story you might expect. The documentary also brings up some interesting points about how the Internet — the land of vitriolic trolls — can draw two very different people together to create great art from odds and ends. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleWalter AddiegoJun 2, 2016
Presenting Princess Shaw looks and feels like a DIY project, which is fine because the documentary is really a hymn to self-reliance — although bolstered with a modest amount of plain old luck. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comGlenn KennyMay 27, 2016
This entertaining narrative documentary is very firmly in the ferment/fervency/fulfillment camp. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerMay 27, 2016
Princess, as a singer, is the real deal, with a throaty resonance that at times recalls Nina Simone. What Kutiman, whom she eventually meets in Israel, has given her is a newfound and miraculous platform for her talent. Read full review
75
New York PostSara StewartMay 26, 2016
A refreshingly positive ode to the power of the Internet to bring far-flung artists together and change lives in the process. Read full review
75
The Film StageJared MobarakMay 26, 2016
How a documentary about the genesis of an artist’s album can evolve into a narrative about another’s perseverance with great things happening to great people is anyone’s guess, but here it is. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayMay 25, 2016
This film barely brushes up against the many, many issues it raises, but those conversations can be had in the lobby, after the pleasure of watching an underappreciated artist finally get her due. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinMay 26, 2016
With a unique narrative conceit and a highly root-worthy underdog at its center, the movie stands apart as a kind of feel-good, audio-visual experiment. Read full review
60
Village VoiceAlan ScherstuhlMay 25, 2016
It's a mistake, I think, that the movie never addresses the fact that a camera crew is following Shaw around. Read full review
50
Slant MagazineClayton DillardMay 22, 2016
The peculiar circumstances of the documentary necessitate more transparency than the filmmaker is willing to offer. Read full review
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