75
Metascore
5 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinLos Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinI have only kind words for The Kind Words, an emotionally rich, beautifully textured family dramedy that touches on a wealth of interpersonal issues with buoyancy, charm and grace. It’s one of the best films so far this year.
- 80The New York TimesHelen T. VerongosThe New York TimesHelen T. VerongosHumor creeps in from strange sources, including a seller of funeral packages and a march through a Paris graveyard. And while not every motivation is clear, subtext isn’t everything in a movie as complex and satisfying as this one.
- 70Village VoiceDiana ClarkeVillage VoiceDiana ClarkeThe chemistry between the siblings carries the film; they share a rich banter and subtle physical affection that feels real, built on years of shared intimacy — and this new experience of ignorance.
- 63Washington PostPat PaduaWashington PostPat PaduaAt times, the film seems pat in its portrayal of modern Judaism struggling to maintain tradition in a changing world. Tonal shifts are problematic, with a maudlin score that evokes television melodrama giving way to quirky, sped-up sequences that treat family drama as light hijinks.
- 60The Hollywood ReporterLeslie FelperinThe Hollywood ReporterLeslie FelperinIt's to the script's credit that it doesn't tie up the story in cute little bows and instead leaves a number of questions unanswered by the end.