The Other Sister
Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: February 26, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
28
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
10
Negative:
10
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
San Francisco ExaminerWalter Addiego
Marshall has an astounding instinct for popular entertainment. He's done it again with The Other Sister. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMark Caro
Falls into a familiar trap, resembling a neatly wrapped made-for-TV homily. [26 February 1999, Friday, p.A]
50
San Francisco ChronicleEdward Guthmann
Neutralizes these characters, makes them cute and one-dimensional like fluffy dolls. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Skillfully acted, idealized, uneven. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
The movie is, however, generous in its condescension: Given enough tolerance, cash and a good sex manual, it says, even the mentally handicapped can be just as middle-class and cute as you or me. Read full review
50
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
Consider The Other Sister emotional quicksand. [26 February 1999, Life, p.5E]
50
VarietyLael Loewenstein
A sweet, at times cloying confection enlivened by strong performances in the central roles. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineSandra Contreras
Attempting to force the story into a romantic comedy template compels Marshall to gloss over the disturbing aspects his characters' disabilities, frequently forcing Ribisi and Lewis to act the part of noble fools. Read full review
40
The New York TimesStephen Holden
What redeems the film…are its three outstanding performances. Read full review
40
Washington PostDesson Thomson
The humor works beautifully until Marshall decides to beat the comedy over the head and drum us, once again, with this relentless message: "Mentally challenged people in love say the darndest things!" Read full review
40
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Oscillates bewilderingly between contrived and insightful, mechanical and sincere, clumsy and graceful. Read full review
38
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Two agonizing hours of lifeless, mind-numbing hogwash. Read full review
30
Austin ChronicleRussell Smith
There's little to recommend this movie, which is part and parcel with Marshall's schlock-dominated body of work. Read full review
30
Washington PostRita Kempley
The Other Sister is sanctimonious, sanitized fare primarily preoccupied with patting its own back and plucking our heartstrings. Read full review
25
Entertainment WeeklyGillian Flynn
Still, there's no mistaking the central message: Slow people have much to teach us. Or is it: Slow people -- aren't they funny? Either way, it's pretty vile stuff. Read full review
25
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Shameless in its use of mental retardation as a gimmick, a prop and a plot device. Anyone with any knowledge of retardation is likely to find the film offensive. Read full review
20
Village VoiceDennis Lim
Plunging headfirst into mush at every opportunity, Marshall brings out the worst in his actors. Read full review
20
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
By coddling viewers and micromanaging our responses, The Other Sister shows almost as little respect for the audience as Elizabeth does for her feisty, underappreciated daughter. Read full review
20
Film ThreatRon Wells
I'm going to beat my head into a wall until I relieve myself of the memory of this film that was, well, retarded. Read full review
12
Rolling StoneStaff (Not credited)
It's not the emphasis on tics and grimaces that mars their essentially well-meaning performances, it’s the sitcom crassness of director and co-writer Garry Marshall. Read full review
0
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
Contrived, clueless, reprehensible. Read full review
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