18
Metascore
19 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- So while The Fanatic isn’t doing anything particularly new, it knows exactly the movie it wants to be. There’s a trashy, pulp energy powering us through the efficient 88-minute run time — long enough to invest us in the stakes, short enough not to wear out its welcome.
- 40Wall Street JournalJohn AndersonWall Street JournalJohn AndersonOne can understand the draw of The Fanatic for someone like Mr. Travolta: It calls for full immersion, mentally and physically. And he pulls it off.
- 38Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreThe Fanatic narrows into a simple character study by Travolta. That’s not enough, and what’s here is as quaint and dated as many of the words that come out of Moose’s mouth.
- 37Washington PostMichael O'SullivanWashington PostMichael O'SullivanDoes not live up to the extravagantly wounded ferocity with which Travolta attacks his part.
- 25The Film StageMike MazzantiThe Film StageMike MazzantiIf you enjoy hooting at corrosive and inept cinema that is neither worthwhile or giddily reprehensible then you might have found a new subject for fanaticism.
- 25The A.V. ClubKatie RifeThe A.V. ClubKatie RifeMostly, the action, while bloodier than one might expect, is as goofy and dim-witted as the dialogue.
- 15TheWrapRobert AbeleTheWrapRobert AbeleA brainless, exploitative folly which gives John Travolta free rein to mine the history of cringe-worthy autism portrayals for an offensively garish Frankenstein pantomime of unhinged obsession.
- 10The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeWhile Travolta may believe he's seriously engaging with the character, following thesps like Dustin Hoffman and Sean Penn into the always-dicey enterprise of mimicking disability, his performance is all shtick and no heart.
- 0VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveyBad in ways that sometimes provoke a disbelieving guffaw, but more often stir pained embarrassment.