The Amateurs (2007)
Tomatometer
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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
Reviews for The Amateurs
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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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. Full Review |
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2/5 |
An amiable enough micro-caper which offers savoury titters over out-and-out laughs without ever living up to the concept’s comedic potential. Full Review |
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1/5 |
A miscalculated mix of sleaze and schmaltz. Full Review |
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1/5 |
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. Full Review |
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2/5 |
Never less than watchable, thanks to its superb cast, but it could and should have been so much better. A sadly wasted opportunity. Full Review |
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1.5/5 |
This film proves that a superb premise and a terrific ensemble cast aren't enough. Writer-director Traeger simply gets it completely wrong. Full Review |
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 3.5/5 |
ultimately heartwarming and humorous enough to merit a recommendation Full Review |
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2/4 |
...ultimately finds itself unable to hold the viewer's interest for more than a few minutes at a time. Full Review |
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Click to read the article Full Review |
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C- |
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. Full Review |
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C+ |
The only burst of creativity is the number of euphemisms Traeger has for pussy ("fruit cup" was my favorite) Full Review |
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All this star power goes for naught in Traeger's film, which tries to blend bucolic sweetness with juvenile let's-make-a-porno jokes. Full Review |
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1/4 |
It ranges from awkward to excruciating. Full Review |
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3/4 |
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. Full Review |
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1.5/4 |
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. Full Review |
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D |
A sleazy, uninspired, pathetically unfunny sex farce. Full Review |
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C |
A strong ensemble cast spruces up a weak script in this trifle...the little picture that, ultimately, doesn't. Full Review |
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Do not waste your time with The Amateurs. Full Review |
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1/4 |
The Amateurs has been shelved for a number of years because -- just a ballpark guess here -- it's not funny. Full Review |
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Potential laughs are largely lost due to the one-note nature of the characters. Full Review |
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