Shorts
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: August 21, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
53
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
11
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
70
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
Adult actors pretty much let the youngsters upstage them. The two leads, Bennett and Vanier, do a nice job holding the center of gravity while the film goes nuts around them. Best of all, Shorts is short, finishing before you can truly get tired of all those wishes gone wrong. Read full review
80
VarietyJustin Chang
More zippy, diverting fun from Robert Rodriguez's family filmmaking factory. Read full review
60
Village VoiceAaron Hillis
A cute and mildly clever fantasy. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
Rodriguez’s technical wizardry is less showy here than in his other recent outings, which helps Shorts connect with kids on a basic human level. Read full review
40
Time OutKeith Uhlich
Props should be given to Rodriguez’s breathless “let’s put on a show” inventiveness. Plus, Macy and the booger--kick ass! Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerDavid Hiltbrand
Like "Jumanji," Shorts runs out of momentum before it's half over. That leaves it treading slapstick and killing time until its strained and preposterous big finish. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Jon Cryer and Leslie Mann have a couple of sly moments as overworked career people, and Spader again proves he learned a lot by working with William Shatner for so long. But the bottomless slapstick and silly effects quickly grow wearying, as does a cast of young actors whose work can politely be called energetic. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldConnie Ogle
Fast and funny, and grown-ups will not suffer sitting through it. Read full review
58
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
More like a summer-camp theater project than a studio movie. Read full review
38
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Be warned, though: This is the multiplex equivalent of ADD. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jennie Punter
Rodriguez, is a hack in the best sense of the term, often serving as producer, director, writer, shooter and composer – all of which come into play for Shorts . Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesBetsy Sharkey
The problem with Shorts is in the execution. The blown-up plot line at times derails even the little ones, the many fine comedic grown-ups are mostly squandered, and the "message" part of the movie feels like it was thrown together during detention, resulting in a wrap-up that is rushed and cloyingly PC. Read full review
58
Portland OregonianM. E. Russell
I'm not sure if parents will be counting out each of Shorts 89 minutes or not, begging for it to end, but I'm guessing 8-year-olds will absolutely love it, because Rodriguez isn't talking down to them or using pop-culture references in place of actual gags; he's making what might be called eye-level children's entertainment. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleAmy Biancolli
It's more of a burst pinata than a story, a wild, kinetic jumble of images, ideas and flying-candy-bar product placement that would offend if it weren't so forthright. Read full review
50
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
If parents feel like they've seen much of Shorts before, its celebration of mayhem and restless, thrill-seeking vibe will absorb young viewers, especially as the boredom of late summer begins to set in. Read full review
50
The New York TimesJeannette Catsoulis
Soon becomes tiresome, but it’s emblematic of a film that is dancing as fast as it can to entertain. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
Magic vies with technology in this exuberant adventure comedy, which unfolds achronologically in a series of zany, effects-laden vignettes. Read full review
25
New York PostKyle Smith
The movie is as lumpy and misshapen as a giant booger. Read full review
63
New Orleans Times-PicayuneMike Scott
A satisfying dose of wild imagination and unbridled silliness. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Provides just enough smart, silly fun for families desperately seeking an easy (and air-conditioned) escape from hazy August humidity. Read full review
60
NPRMark Jenkins
A preachy parable of suburban discontent, Shorts probably has enough kid-oriented slapstick to please the under-12 set. But it's not likely to rival writer-director Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids" series in long-term appeal. Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Fast-paced, imaginative and often cute, Shorts is slight but enjoyable family fare. Read full review
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