38
Metascore
17 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 67The Film StageJared MobarakThe Film StageJared MobarakThis subject matter can be tough to traverse, but Lewis embraces the challenge and makes us wonder why he stopped acting in the first place.
- 63Rolling StonePeter TraversRolling StonePeter TraversIt's a shallow, melodramatic device that would sink most actors. But Lewis is not most actors. In fact, despite age and illness, he remains a mesmerizing star in front of the camera, compelling to watch even (and especially) when sitting perfectly still.
- 50Slant MagazineChuck BowenSlant MagazineChuck BowenThe film occasionally and promisingly suggests an obsessive and free-associative paean to regret.
- 42The A.V. ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskyThe A.V. ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskyIn old age, Lewis’ vanity has become touching. But Max Rose — shelved for more than three years before finally making its way to theaters — is as trite as a film can be while piggybacking off the reality of age.
- 40Village VoiceAlan ScherstuhlVillage VoiceAlan ScherstuhlOccasionally, Noah, who wrote and directed, hits onto something that feels like life.
- 40The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisThe New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisThe writer and director, Daniel Noah, creates no space for the story’s darker corners, or for his star to delve beneath the surface of Max’s depression and anger. Then again, who cares? It’s Jerry Lewis, so everyone can just shut up.
- 38RogerEbert.comGlenn KennyRogerEbert.comGlenn KennyAs conventional and stiff as Max Rose itself is, Lewis’ performance in it is full of virtues: he’s committed, disciplined, and entirely credible.
- 25TheWrapRobert AbeleTheWrapRobert AbeleThe truest test for unrepentant treacle like this is to imagine how invested one would be if Lewis weren’t headlining his first movie in 20 years.... The answer is, barely invested at all, considering how simplified and pandering is Noah’s approach to issues of grief, aging, and family dynamics.
- 25New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickTwo decades after his last film, the legendary Jerry Lewis performs a truly unfortunate encore playing an elderly widower in writer-director Daniel Noah’s morose and thoroughly unconvincing drama.