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Reviews Counted:24
Fresh:4
Rotten:20
Average Rating:3.9/10
Consensus: The Amateurs is a largely unfunny sex comedy that squanders a talented cast.
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Sex sells in America and these guys know it. When Andy (Jeff Bridges) discovers that his ex-wife has married an extremely wealthy man who is now his son’s “cool” stepfather, he becomes motivated to... [More]
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Tim Blake Nelson, Joe Pantoliano, William Fichtner
Director: Michael Traeger
If there’s something hypocritically coy about a sex comedy without sex (let alone a porn industry without victims), there’s also something refreshing about the characters’ unabashed good nature -- at least until the grievously saccharine finale.
Top CriticAn amiable enough micro-caper which offers savoury titters over out-and-out laughs without ever living up to the concept’s comedic potential.
Top CriticA miscalculated mix of sleaze and schmaltz.
Top CriticNever less than watchable, thanks to its superb cast, but it could and should have been so much better. A sadly wasted opportunity.
How embarrassing to see an actor of Jeff Bridges's calibre giving his all in such a terrible film. It's a lame comedy which raises only a few facetious groans.
Top CriticThis film proves that a superb premise and a terrific ensemble cast aren't enough. Writer-director Traeger simply gets it completely wrong.
The chief virtue of Amateurs is that it gives many talented people (Valerie Perrine, Judy Greer, Lauren Graham, Tim Blake Nelson) a scene or two in which to shine.
ultimately heartwarming and humorous enough to merit a recommendation
The Amateurs turns out to be a mini-classic of sweet vulgarity, much in the vicinity if not the exact class of the recent spate of the Judd Apatow canon.
You'll notice that the actors are way overqualified for this nonsense. But the kick they get out of one another is what pulls you in.
The only burst of creativity is the number of euphemisms Traeger has for pussy ("fruit cup" was my favorite)
The Amateurs has been shelved for a number of years because -- just a ballpark guess here -- it's not funny.
Amateurs had all the potential in the world to be a charming, oddball delight, but it's a mess. A horrible mess. Albeit a horrible mess with some big laughs and the evergreen presence of Jeff Bridges.
Potential laughs are largely lost due to the one-note nature of the characters.
This sort of thing was done much better by the British years ago in The Full Monty and Calendar Girls. There's really no call for an American rehash.
...ultimately finds itself unable to hold the viewer's interest for more than a few minutes at a time.
There are no laughs to be found in writer-director Michael Traeger's would-be comedy The Amateurs, but there is one big mystery: how actors of this caliber could have been convinced to take part.
Top CriticA strong ensemble cast spruces up a weak script in this trifle...the little picture that, ultimately, doesn't.
It's just not much fun to watch first time director Michael Traeger aim for Capra-esque comedy and wind up closer to crap.
As a writer, Traeger is consternatingly adolescent and glib.
December 06, 2007:
Critical Consensus: The Golden Compass Loses Its Way
This week at the movies, we've got the first installment of the His Dark Materials trilogy, The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, and Daniel Craig.... More...
November 03, 2007:
Trailer & Poster review 
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