It takes a while to realize that this is actually a sly, very funny comedy, one that stays admirably deadpan every time you think it’s about to veer into gross-out territory.
60
VarietyDennis Harvey
VarietyDennis Harvey
Unlike the vast majority of rude bigscreen comedies these days, "Prison" may actually improve with repeat viewings, since its best aspects are offhand enough to be missed the first time around.
60
Village Voice
Village Voice
Much funnier and weirder than you think.
50
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Odenkirk is an expert at the unexpected laugh. (This must be the first prison movie in which a cafeteria put-down involves the painter Lucian Freud.)
The sad thing is that Arnett, Shepard and McBride quickly establish a loose, easy camaraderie that's a real pleasure to watch. The shame is that they're working with such unrewarding material.
30
The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck
The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck
Let's Go to Prison ultimately feels as long as a stint in the big house.
12
New York PostKyle Smith
New York PostKyle Smith
A comedy that locks up Will Arnett's talent and throws away the key.
12
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Boston GlobeTy Burr
It's a remarkably laugh-free comedy that takes on a dark subject and skitters along its surface.
12
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jennie Punter
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jennie Punter
It makes "Little Man," "Scary Movie 3" and "Beerfest" look like comic masterpieces.
The real crime here is that Let's Go to Prison made a daring escape from direct-to-video stir into the relative freedom of your neighborhood multiplex. Consider this one disarmed and extremely pointless.