Kicking And Screaming 2005

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: ... barely watchable. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Crushingly inept family comedy. Read more

Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune: Ferrell sticks with it, kicking and screaming indeed, distracting us with his good-natured mugging until enough 'it's-not-about-winning' lessons to fill a sequel are pounded home. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: It just plods along, harmless but lifeless, going exactly where you think it's going. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Sit in a room by yourself, look at a blank screen for 90 minutes, and you'll have more of a chance of laughing at your own thoughts than you will at this movie. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: Will Ferrell is one funny guy. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Just watching Ferrell pull faces (for lack of a better term) is hilarious. Read more

Keith Phipps, AV Club: This isn't the worst setup for a kiddie comedy, but it proves that Ferrell alone can't carry a film. Read more

Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic: There's few revelations, but it's pleasantly handled and swiftly executed. Kids will love it, and there's enough laughs to sustain their parents. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Rather shakily directed by Jesse (son of Bob) Dylan, who possibly knows something about larger-than-life fathers. Read more

Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times: The kind of movie that makes you wonder why anyone would even bother making it in the first place. Read more

Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle: Most of the time, [the kids] go along. Most of the time we do, too. Read more

Michael Booth, Denver Post: The sort of almost-there family movie for which half-stars exist in ratings. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Ferrell doesn't just save this junk -- he rules it. Read more

Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News: Kicking & Screaming delivers what it promises, but it's time to promise something better. Read more

Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly: A likable but labored situation comedy skewed heavily toward the situation. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: Ferrell fiddles with different kinds of jokes as if he were trying on shoes. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: Silly, mindless and derivative, but Duvall brings some bite to the proceedings and Ferrell is dependably amusing. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: Even a soccer-savvy audience has better things to do -- like instilling unsportsmanlike behavior in their kids or sabotaging rival teams. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: A so-so family sports comedy that aims a weak satirical kick at the divided soul of the American middle-class dad, as personified by Will Ferrell. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: A zero, but the title describes how the audience is likely to react, perfectly. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Stop me if you've heard this before. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: An entertaining family movie, and may serve a useful purpose if it inspires kids to overthrow their coaches and take over their own sports. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Kicking & Screaming gives us Ferrell in top form. As the mentor to a squad of hapless 10-year-olds, he's the least mature person on the field. Read more

Leah McLaren, Globe and Mail: A limping string of laboured sight gags and sentimental cliches. Read more

Malene Arpe, Toronto Star: If you're into Will Ferrell. Read more

Time Out: Read more

Stephen Garrett, Time Out: Will Ferrell has become the most unlikely embodiment of wholesome family fun since Fred MacMurray gave up film noir for My Three Sons. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: A good script is the most essential ingredient for a good movie. Hiring a comedian isn't enough. Read more

Scott Foundas, Variety: An immensely likable, funny comedy that finds a novel approach to that familiar combo of kids and sports. Read more

Matt Singer, Village Voice: Even the intermittent laughs undermine Kicking and its winning-isn't-everything message. According to the plot, competition makes Phil insufferable. According to Ferrell's performance, it makes him hilarious. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: Ferrell is one of the film's few bright lights. It's a shame to hide that subversive beacon under a bushel of dully inspirational sports movie cliches. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: As lazy, bloated and TV-screen- friendly as shameless promos come. Read more