Soul Men
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: November 7, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
49
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews
Positive:
11
Mixed:
10
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
There's nothing quite like watching Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac performing at a hoedown and getting into it with the audience. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
This movie has a lot of good music in it, some on the soundtrack, some on the screen. Jackson and Bernie Mac have enormous fun doing intricate dance moves together. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck
This contemporary riff on "The Sunshine Boys" generally manages to succeed anyway, thanks to the entertaining performances by Mac and co-star Samuel L. Jackson and its generous doses of raucous humor and sweet soul music. Read full review
70
VarietyBrian Lowry
There's a nice chemistry between Mac and Samuel L. Jackson in this latest variant of the road movie, which contains comedic elements but actually works better as a drama. Read full review
70
Village VoiceChuck Wilson
Mac and Jackson carry the show--particularly Mac, who's at his crackly, cranky best here. As swan songs go, Soul Men is pretty sweet. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
The funniest bit in the crude but diverting Soul Men really makes you miss Bernie Mac, who died in August, a few months after completing the picture. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerDavid Hiltbrand
Jackson gets by mostly on bluster, but that doesn't matter because he serves mostly as a foil to Mac's popeyed shake-and-bake antics. Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
The material doesn't consistently do justice to their talents, but the movie is worth seeing for their chemistry and for the Motown-infused soundtrack. Read full review
63
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Soul Men is a chance to salute these masters of mirth and music. Take it. Read full review
63
TV Guide MagazineJason Buchanan
It's a joy to watch soul legend Isaac Hayes in one of his final roles. Read full review
63
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
Soul Men isn't much of a movie, but it bubbles along and reaches its percolating high point at the very end. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
The script is basically a retread of every other AARP comedy, from "Grumpy Old Men" to "Wild Hogs." The laughs, in other words, are of the Viagra and kidney stone variety. Read full review
60
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
A raucous, rambling comedy, offering some laughs, some groans and a feast for fans of the musical idioms it mocks and celebrates. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Soul Men could have done with less amped-up abrasiveness and more soft-shoe charm. Read full review
50
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
The movie also qualifies as a kind of low-rent, male version of "Dreamgirls," but -- while many of the numbers are pleasant -- it doesn't have the moxie to work as a musical. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
Needless to say, Soul Men has a lot to overcome in its effort to be funny. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
Mac was a magnetic performer with a long history of redeeming mediocre movies; unfortunately this is another one. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
There are two reasons to put up with Soul Men, and that's the soul men themselves. Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac appear to be having a good time, and for most of this raunchy, poorly orchestrated buddy comedy, that's enough. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleJosh Rosenblatt
Whenever Soul Men is in need of a jolt of energy, these two poets of profanity are always ready with rapid-fire, mean-spirited rants that would make the writers of "Deadwood" blush. Read full review
40
SalonStephanie Zacharek
Couldn't be more unhip -- it just never hits the groove. Read full review
40
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
Misbegotten buddy-bonding comedy of errors. Read full review
38
New York PostLou Lumenick
If you insist on seeing Soul Men, stick around during the closing credits for the best part of the movie, an interview with Mac. Read full review
0
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
For all its crudeness and desperation, Soul Men can't scare up a single laugh. Read full review
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