Stolen Summer
Miramax Films | Release Date: March 1, 2002 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
36
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
6
Mixed:
10
Negative:
8
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
New York PostLou Lumenick
The two youngsters are not polished performers, but that's actually part of the subtle charm. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
A delightful surprise because despite all the backstage drama, this is a movie that tells stories that work -- is charming, is moving, is funny and looks professional. Read full review
70
Film ThreatChris Gore
The story is enhanced by solid performances all around by Bonnie Hunt, Aidan Quinn and Kevin Pollack. Read full review
70
Washington PostDesson Thomson
The performances take the movie to a higher level. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Even when his technique is amateurish, Jones' belief in the material is refreshing. Pollak's gentle humor is well balanced by the blunt wit of Bonnie Hunt as the O'Malley matriarch. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeJay Carr
Sweetly earnest little drama. Read full review
58
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
The entertainment gods have cast mixed blessings on Stolen Summer. Let Pete Jones pray. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
It would be a mildly lovely thing to be able to say the movie isn't bad. But it is. Read full review
50
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
It plays like a big-budget, after-school special with a generous cast, who at times lift the material from its well-meaning clunkiness. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
The film is shamelessly presented by Miramax as "The Project Greenlight Movie," and writer-director Pete Jones's big break may ultimately prove a liability. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
Stolen Summer is no disaster, though. It's merely one more misfire fortunate enough to attract actors like Bonnie Hunt and Aidan Quinn, who almost make it work. Read full review
40
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Beyond fulfilling the dreams of a seemingly nice fellow, the whole venture is a victory of hype over substance, loudly accomplishing nothing. Read full review
40
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Cringingly earnest, totally unremarkable fable. Read full review
40
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
There are many plot complications, most designed to get us to applaud our tolerance of religious differences. Read full review
40
New Times (L.A.)Luke Y. Thompson
For better or worse -- plenty of both, in fact --it's a movie that has a coherent vision. It's a shame that vision just doesn't happen to be very interesting. Read full review
40
VarietyDavid Rooney
Plays like an aggressively heart-tugging, exceedingly vanilla Disney telemovie. Read full review
38
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
You leave Stolen Summer with the feeling that you have watched acrobats stumble on a tightrope with no net below. Not a great show, but at least nobody got badly hurt. Read full review
38
Miami HeraldConnie Ogle
The best story here is the one about how Stolen Summer made it to the screen; that's more compelling than anything that happens in Pete's world. Read full review
30
SalonStephanie Zacharek
Just slides off the screen and disappears. Read full review
30
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
Summer is like an episode of the religious children's series "Davey and Goliath," without the entertainment value of animation and a talking dog. Read full review
25
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
Say a little prayer and save your money. Read full review
10
Village VoiceDennis Lim
Made with no discernible craft and monstrously sanctimonious in dealing with childhood loss, it might as well be called "Pray It Forward." Read full review
10
L.A. WeeklyManohla Dargis
A promotional gimmick that's being slipped into theaters with the sort of stealth accorded only the unprofitable or the unwatchable. Read full review
0
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
How feeble a movie is Stolen Summer? So feeble they've just about buried the title on the film's own poster. Read full review
More From This Movie

36 Critic Reviews

5.7 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL