RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Life of Reilly
Life of Reilly

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Showtimes & Tickets
  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Life of Reilly (2007)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
100 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:39

Fresh:39

Rotten:0

Average Rating:7.5/10

Consensus: The Life of Reilly is a humorous and endearing look at the late comedian.

Runtime: 87 mins

Genre: Television

Synopsis: Beloved late actor Charles Nelson Reilly headlines his one man show SAVE IT FOR THE STAGE: THE LIFE OF REILLY in this filmed performance. The frequent TONIGHT SHOW guest reveals everything from his... Beloved late actor Charles Nelson Reilly headlines his one man show SAVE IT FOR THE STAGE: THE LIFE OF REILLY in this filmed performance. The frequent TONIGHT SHOW guest reveals everything from his childhood in the Bronx to his struggles and successes as a gay actor in Hollywood. [More]

Starring: Charles Nelson Reilly

Starring: Charles Nelson Reilly

Director: Frank Anderson, Barry Poltermann

Director: Frank Anderson, Barry Poltermann
Screenwriter: Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Linke
Producer: Bob Fagan, Wrye Martin
Composer: Frank Anderson
Studio: Reel Diva

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 15

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Life of Reilly

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

As this entertaining recording of his one-man show reveals, Reilly was a natural raconteur.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
03/10/09
Hank Sartin
Hank Sartin
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

...the man’s sense of stagecraft and storytelling prowess are undeniable.

Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
03/10/09
Jason Anderson
Jason Anderson
eye WEEKLY

... a poignant tribute to the one-time Broadway star best known to the public at large as a game-show wit and Johnny Carson guest.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
12/06/07
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Makes a fitting legacy for a showbiz trooper who refused to fade quietly away.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
11/09/07
Geoff Berkshire
Geoff Berkshire
Metromix.com

This charming, bittersweet 90-minute monologue consists of the actor telling tales of his childhood and early years, when he was an ugly duckling from an uglier family.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
11/16/07
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe

I love this movie.I don't say those four words often, so I had to put them first. And isolate them ... a postmortem revelation as much as a perfect swansong.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
11/17/07
Christopher Campbell
Christopher Campbell
Cinematical

It... holds wrenching emotional power in its naked, warts-and-all history of one man’s life...

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
03/10/09
KJ Doughton
KJ Doughton
Film Threat

Occasionally you see a documentary and it hits you how much you don’t know about someone who was part of your mental landscape. Charles Nelson Reilly didn’t arouse much of anything in me, but he does in The Life of Reilly.

Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment Comment
11/12/07
David Edelstein
David Edelstein
New York Magazine

...he's far more candid recalling his grand delusions in a school play than he is when he gets to Broadway and Hollywood.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
03/10/09
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly

The funniest and most poignant documentary of the year is The Life of Reilly, the final will and testament of the great Charles Nelson Reilly.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
11/11/07
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

The Life of Reilly is a tender tale of semi-triumph.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
11/30/07
Rick Groen
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail

Anyone expecting epicene camp or gossip about Gene Rayburn and Fannie Flagg will not know what hit them.

Full Review Source: EDGE Boston | comment Comment
11/29/07
Phil Hall
Phil Hall
EDGE Boston

Assembled from Reilly's final performance of Save It for the Stage in North Hollywood, Life of Reilly is as charming and disarmingly affecting as the man himself.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
11/09/07
Evan Henerson
Evan Henerson
Los Angeles Daily News

Reilly conjures a self-portrait that is insightful, hilarious and completely devoid of self-pity.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
12/14/07
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Unfortunately, I never caught Nelson live, but this film has to be the closest thing to it.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
03/10/09
Jonathan W. Hickman
Jonathan W. Hickman
Entertainment Insiders

Warm and hilarious... the bittersweet milestones play like a Spalding Gray monologue loosened up with a few shots of tequila.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
11/13/07
Aaron Hillis
Aaron Hillis
L.A. Weekly

The Life of Reilly pays fitting homage to a man who deserves to be remembered for much more than just trading double-entendres with Brett Somers on The Match Game.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
11/29/07
Ann Hornaday
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post

It doesn't pretend to be a movie, really, but it's an unexpected treat from a man who made a living out of being silly.

Full Review Source: HeraldNet | comment Comment
03/10/09
Robert Horton
Robert Horton
HeraldNet

...it's a funny and frequently affecting reminiscence...

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
03/10/09
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader

For anyone who appreciates what The Life of Reilly was really all about, it is worthwhile.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
11/30/07
Bruce Kirkland
Bruce Kirkland
Jam! Movies
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
See All

More Movies

Coming Soon
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

arrow arrow Show more Show less

81% 81% Departures 04/12
79% 79% Disgrace 04/12
79% 79% Me and Orson Welles 04/12
66% 66% The Merry Gentleman 04/12
61% 61% The Girlfriend Experience 04/12
47% 47% The Box 04/12
16% 16% Planet 51 04/12
— The Descent: Part 2 04/12
— Cracks 04/12
— Paa 04/12

What’s Hot On RT

Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia

Your first look at the swashbuckler.

Vampires

Vampires

We rank cinema's bloodsuckers.

Avatar

Avatar

The full trailer for Cameron's epic.

2012

2012

12 facts about Emmerich's disaster flick.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
19
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
44
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
118
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
178
  • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
131
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
76
  • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
75
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
59
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
40
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
32
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
20
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
14
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
13
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
14
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
10
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
20
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
7
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
20
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Life of Reilly at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.