The Willoughbys
Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): April 22, 2020 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
68
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
5
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
85
PolygonPetrana RadulovicMay 19, 2020
The animation decisions in The Willoughbys heighten the message of redefining family, connecting the medium directly to the storyline. Read full review
83
Original-CinLiam LaceyApr 22, 2020
Fans of cynically funny children's entertainment in the vein of Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket’s Daniel Handler should glean some fun out of the new Netflix animated movie, The Willoughbys, an energetic and semi-imaginative comedy about an appalling family. Read full review
80
VarietyPeter DebrugeApr 20, 2020
While The Willoughbys might not be very original, its novelty comes through in the delivery and execution, owing to a witty screenplay (by Pearn and Mark Stanleigh) that combines nimble wordplay with highly compressed, well-paced plotting. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonApr 22, 2020
With a sense of eccentric macabre that recalls Roald Dahl and Charles Addams, The Willoughbys arrives on Netflix with a winning, eclectic energy that should have kids — like the animated moppets in the film — bouncing off the walls. In a good way, of course. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comMonica CastilloApr 22, 2020
The movie practically sparkles in scenes at Melanoff’s candy factor, where the rainbow motif is woven throughout the space and even onto Melanoff’s commander jacket, which is topped off with candy buttons and cupcakes on his shoulders. Read full review
75
IndieWireKate ErblandApr 22, 2020
The Willoughbys is different — or, perhaps, just different enough to stand out, as it sends up the vast assortment of kiddie stories about missing, dead, or just plain bad parents, and finds something fresh and funny in the process. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzApr 21, 2020
Parents might get more of a kick out of the voice-casting and darker corners of the story than school-aged children. But Vancouver’s BRON Animation studio provides a strong, often beguiling sense of tyke-hypnotizing flair to the visuals, and the zippy, synthy score by Wes Anderson favourite Mark Mothersbaugh should keep kids bouncing up and down, in a good way. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyApr 23, 2020
There's a lot going on in The Willoughbys, yet if you can get on board with its manic energy and accelerated plotting, the Netflix animated family comedy-adventure has an oddball charm that works surprisingly well. Read full review
60
Screen RantMolly FreemanApr 23, 2020
The Willoughbys is a mishmash of story ideas strung together by the idea of found family, but it's cute and quirky enough to keep viewers hooked. Read full review
60
The New York TimesNatalia WinkelmanApr 22, 2020
Though it tends to feel disjointed as a whole, The Willoughbys thrives when it embraces its grim plot and lets mischief reign. Read full review
60
The GuardianBenjamin LeeApr 20, 2020
While The Willoughbys might not boast the slick structure or beating heart of a Pixar animation, there’s enough offbeat charm to make it an easily digestible watch and for any concerned parents, the practice of “orphaning” involves so much work, your kids will likely be scared off. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesMichael OrdoñaApr 21, 2020
The film’s bright colors and blaring happy music may not be enough for viewers to overcome the rather unfunny themes of neglect (“Back up the abuse caboose”) routinely excused in more engaging fare. Read full review
42
The PlaylistAsher LubertoApr 21, 2020
This Netflix film works overtime trying to be flashy without bothering to create characters worth rooting for, and its long run time won’t do bored parents any favors. Read full review
38
Movie NationRoger MooreApr 27, 2020
It starts promisingly, builds towards something Roald Dahl cutting and cute, and kind of comes to pieces, like crumb cake. Read full review
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