Restoration

Miramax | Release Date: February 2, 1996

CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION

66	METASCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Critic Reviews

Critic score Publication By date

Roger Ebert

The film has many virtues, but for me the most enchanting is simply the lust with which it depicts a bold and colorful era in history. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Screenwriter Walters and director Hoffman superbly replay the mood of Tremain's lively, well-written novel. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Blinking his puppy-moist eyes and grappling with an English accent, Downey struggles so manfully in the role that one cuts him a lot of slack; working earnestly on her Irish brogue and mussing up her cupcake demeanor in the service of verisimilitude as a wise madwoman, Meg Ryan’s performance is, refreshingly, less precious than she’s been in a long while. Read full review

Barbara Shulgasser

Hoffman proves himself a master of complex scenery, crowd control and graceful direction. He succeeds in making a conspicuously lush and rich movie out of what was reportedly a less than kingly budget. Read full review

Jay Carr

For all its shortcomings, Restoration is miles beyond most historical epics. [26 Jan 1996, p.51]

Michael Wilmington

If one judged movies purely on the basis of photography and sets, Restoration would deserve a place near the top. [26 Jan 1996, p.C]

John Hartl

It never feels like a history lesson about the social-political changes wrought by the Restoration, although it could be argued that it's exactly that. Even when it's taking itself seriously, it neatly avoids pomposity. [02 Feb 1996, p.F1]

Staff (Not Credited)

This adaptation (by Rupert Walters) of Rose Tremain's brilliant Booker-shortlisted novel is a lot better than rumours about its frantic, lengthy post-production might have suggested. Engaging if uneven. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Writer Rupert Walters's episodic narrative is decidedly corny—especially the later chapters—and yes, it's as creaky as old bones. But its weaknesses are offset by the film's elaborate re-creation of plague-ridden London. Read full review

Jay Boyar

Restoration, as I say, has its flaws. The lessons it wants to teach us may be too obvious. And the production's appealing lack of solemnity has the downside of seeming, at times, like superficiality. [26 Jan 1996, p.18]

Carrie Rickey

Restoration moves from farce to spiritual parable to melodrama with such inconsistency that it could be a case study in 17th-century multiple personality disorder. [02 Feb 1996, p.05]

Rick Groen

Restoration is a middling thing, indifferent good, albeit much enlivened by Robert Downey Jr., who did act Merivel with the full vigour of his profession. [31 Jan 1996]