What's the Worst That Could Happen?
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) | Release Date: June 1, 2001 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
37
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
14
Negative:
10
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
SlateDavid Edelstein
The movie made me laugh a lot anyway. It has a big, inventive cast of loons and a great premise. Read full review
63
USA TodayMike Clark
This dispensable comedy has a few unexpectedly loopy surprises, including an outlandishly gay detective (played by versatile actor William Fichtner), who loves the Ice Capades but loathes insurance fraud. Read full review
63
Baltimore SunChris Kaltenbach
Best when DeVito plays off the supporting cast surrounding him.
63
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
Mostly a lazy string of setups and sight gags, of tongue-in-cheek confrontations between the two stars that barely amount to sketches. Read full review
60
New Times (L.A.)Luke Y. Thompson
Actually boasts a decent script with character development, a sense of pace and some well-drawn supporting roles. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleCarla Meyer
This sometimes funny but ultimately convoluted movie would have benefited enormously from letting Lawrence loose. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMarrit Ingman
This frothy little crime comedy isn't half bad, bubbling with caper-farce energy supplied by a game ensemble cast and a source novel by prolific pulp writer Donald E. Westlake. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Filmmakers run out of ideas long before the final. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeJay Carr
Supposed to be a cheeky little lark but instead runs a narrow gamut from labored to aimless.
50
SalonCharles Taylor
I don't know when a bad movie has made me laugh as much as this one. Most of the gags are vintage silliness: foreign double talk, characters donning funny costumes, well-timed profanities. Read full review
42
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
It simply isn't that funny or clever. For a comedy, that's about the worst that could happen Read full review
40
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
The movie turns into a cobweb of tricky spins and twists that seems like a hip-hop version of "Ruthless People." Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
Laborious in the unfolding of its plot, and under Sam Weisman's brash direction the unabashed amorality of the material is crass rather than sly in tone. Read full review
40
VarietyRobert Koehler
The star in this case is Martin Lawrence, who is not only thoroughly upstaged by nemesis Danny DeVito but is completely boxed out of his comfort zone for broad physical comedy. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineTanya L. Edwards
Among the disconnected scenes are a few that are downright hilarious, and the actors do their best to rise above disjointed material. Read full review
40
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Certainly grows in its own right, into a coarse-grained summer vaudeville that could have been much smarter and sharper without losing its target audience.
40
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Lawrence forgoes his knack for verbal comedy and replaces it with crude nonstop mugging. Read full review
40
Mr. ShowbizLarry Terenzi
Struggles for any kind of movement and cohesion -- and most of all for any kind of humor.
38
New York PostLou Lumenick
Dumbed down to the point where it's barely recognizable as coming from one of Donald Westlake's John Dortmunder novels. Read full review
38
Chicago TribuneMark Caro
Packed with gratuitous dumb moments -- which is too bad, given that the premise has promise.
33
Portland OregonianKim Morgan
A film with almost zero redeeming value. Read full review
30
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Dull, plodding comedy. Read full review
30
Film.comRobert Horton
The movie is a mess. Read full review
30
Washington PostStephen Hunter
Now and then sputters to comic life but more usually wheezes along. Read full review
25
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Too many characters, not enough plot, and a disconnect between the two stars' acting styles. Read full review
20
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
I'd rather watch a forgotten houseplant dehydrate and die. Read full review
20
L.A. WeeklyPaul Malcolm
Comes off as a desperate attempt to breathe life into dull proceedings. Read full review
16
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Maybe the worst thing that can happen is that every other movie at the multiplex will be sold out this weekend. Read full review
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