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Guava Island

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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64

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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5.5

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5.5	Your Score
5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Guava Island

Series Details & Credits

Prime Video | Release Date: April 13, 2019

Summary: Directed by Hiro Murai, Donald Glover's "tropical thriller" filmed in Cuba about a musician putting together a festival also features Rhianna and Letitia Wright.

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series

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Metascore

64

Positive:

4

Mixed:

4

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

75

RogerEbert.com Nick Allen

Apr 13, 2019

Season 1 Review: Its inspired however slight storytelling makes for another great display of Glover’s many talents as an entertainer. Read full review

70

The Hollywood Reporter

John DeFore

Apr 13, 2019

Season 1 Review: Instead of Purple Rain, the film plays more like the 1978 reggae film Rockers, preferring the loosest possible narrative to a myth-building melodrama. Read full review

70

Variety

Peter Debruge

Apr 13, 2019

Season 1 Review: Acting has never been Rihanna’s strong suit, and when the film cuts to her, it’s impossible to ignore one of “Guava Island’s” fundamental limitations: that she really ought to be singing, rather than reduced to playing Deni’s love interest. Read full review

60

The Guardian Jake Nevins

Dec 5, 2019

Season 1 Review: The result is something half-baked and probably best watched while baked, a project rich with ideas about art and consumption that remain curiously unleavened. Read full review

60

The Telegraph Adam White

Jan 3, 2020

Season 1 Review: Guava Island is a neat encapsulation of Glover’s key artistic interests, expressions that are by turn angry and hopeful, but always driven by the idea of music as an undeniable force for good. As a film it is slight, but not unsatisfying, instead existing as a thoughtful, dreamy tribute to art, love and people power. Read full review

58

The A.V. Club

Joelle Monique

Apr 16, 2019

Season 1 Review: Its tight runtime and straightforward message, mixed with infectious music, makes the film an enjoyable weekend-morning stream. Read full review

50

New York Magazine (Vulture)

Emily Yoshida

Apr 13, 2019

Season 1 Review: At times it feels like a lost student film that’s been languishing in someone’s basement for decades. Read full review

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5.5

User Reviews

9

Rryynn

Dec 25, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Iitt'ss aammaazziinngg !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

7

PochoEpic

Aug 9, 2020

Hermosa película, me encanta la forma de expresar el arte que tiene Donald Glover, y la interpretación de Rihanna me pareció orgánica y realista. Si bien la trama de la película no es lo suficientemente interesante o atractiva, los mensajes que entrega el film son bastante profundos yHermosa película, me encanta la forma de expresar el arte que tiene Donald Glover, y la interpretación de Rihanna me pareció orgánica y realista. Si bien la trama de la película no es lo suficientemente interesante o atractiva, los mensajes que entrega el film son bastante profundos y fundados en el amor al arte y la libertad.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

6

sachineldho

Mar 20, 2020

Guava island has a great storyline and a theme of oppressed people fighting the oppressor. But it is very much poorly executed.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

6

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

This is a laidback watch - its got a fairly thin plot about an upcoming music festival which the main character, a musician and DJ, is pushed to cancel (that made me think of the Fyre festival). I liked the start with the animated titles and there is some nice African/Caribbean music presentThis is a laidback watch - its got a fairly thin plot about an upcoming music festival which the main character, a musician and DJ, is pushed to cancel (that made me think of the Fyre festival). I liked the start with the animated titles and there is some nice African/Caribbean music present but it felt a bit too weak otherwise. I'd have liked to have seen more character interaction and more of a context given to things.

Its certainly an easy and light watch. I liked seeing the scenes featuring (what I assume to be) traditional African clothing, costumes and the like. Its not a bad watch but its not quite good as a full blown film - nearly but not quite. I couldn't help but feel like I'd be more intrigued if I had more of an emotional connection to the main characters, through knowing more of the background/context to what takes place. I'd say this is more a mix of a long series of music videos and perhaps an advert for the area, which was filmed in Cuba according to IMDB.

Its certainly alright but not what I'd regard as a proper full blown film as such - I doubt it'll stay on my mind for long. However, its good to see people try something new and its reasonably enjoyable, with if but a loose plot present, so if this partcularly interests you, in terms of the music and being something a bit different (plus if you have Prime Video access as its available to watch there at the moment (late July 2019) then I'd say its worth a watch, yes, just don't expect it to be a 'regular film' as such. I felt it had potential but it didn't quite get there, somehow, which is a shame.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Seasons & Episodes

64

Series Overview
Season 1

64
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 13, 2019
- No episode information is currently available for this season