75
Metascore
7 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90Village VoiceDiana ClarkeVillage VoiceDiana ClarkeThis film does not pander. Rather, it demands that the viewer rise to the occasion.
- 90VarietyRonnie ScheibVarietyRonnie ScheibBeginning as a colorful documentary about the Puerto Rican transgender community, candidly showcasing nine very different subjects, Mala Mala slowly morphs into a celebration of solidarity and collective activism without ever losing sight of its likable protagonists.
- 83The A.V. ClubAdam NaymanThe A.V. ClubAdam NaymanAmid all the images of celebration and joyful physical abandon—including a showcase solo dance performance that functions as a kind of climax—the most lingering images are the ones depicting daily routines.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckIts subjects are indeed a fascinating and diverse lot.
- 70The DissolveJen ChaneyThe DissolveJen ChaneyAfter spending time with all nine of these sometimes-gutsy, sometimes-conflicted women and men, it’s impossible not to feel a deeper appreciation for their struggle to feel like the skin they live in is genuinely their home.
- 70The New York TimesDaniel M. GoldThe New York TimesDaniel M. GoldWhile affirming the dignity of its subjects, Mala Mala shows there’s little glamour attached to the pursuit of selfhood.
- 50Slant MagazineDiego SemereneSlant MagazineDiego SemereneThe filmmakers aren't really interested in the space between what these women say and what they mean.