Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding 2011

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Every plot turn is groaningly predictable. But at least the lead performances set off sparks. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: Pop songs, beautiful bucolic scenery and the joy of watching Jane Fonda fizz in a fun role that looks like a no-brainer are elements that a skilled director like Australia's polished Bruce Beresford blends with perfection. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Was there no one to suggest that the script, by Joseph Muszynski and Christina Mengert, had certain deficits? All the same, the spectacle of first-rate actors attacking third-rate material is guilty fun. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: You could watch Bruce Beresford's wan comedy "Peace, Love and Misunderstanding" with the sound off, and still follow the plot easily just by watching Catherine Keener's hair. Read more

Alison Willmore, AV Club: This musty comedy makes its chosen location look like a place that exists only to heal refugees from the city, and provide answers for life's problems. Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: Squanders the abilities of these usually fearless, formidable actresses with material that's entirely predictable and a high sap factor that belongs in a made-for-cable production. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: How you feel about "Peace, Love & Misunderstanding" will depend on how you feel about aging hippies and the continuing relevance of all things Woodstock. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: Peace, Love and Misunderstanding often plays like a remake of Georgia Rule with the political polarities reversed. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: "Peace, Love & Misunderstanding" treats the Hudson Valley as a kind of Eden, and it is not the first film to do so, merely one of the duller. All is schematic in the extreme. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: There's a great movie to be made about the survivors of Woodstock Nation and their children. But in order to make that movie, you first have to respect the ideals of that generation enough to at least give them their due. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: Woodstock, and hippie grandmas everywhere, demand better. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Nobody deserves this movie. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Let's hear it for the giant wig of Pre-Raphaelite gray corkscrews planted on the noggin of Jane Fonda as a glamorous hippie grandma. Read more

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: The saving grace to the utter predictability in Christina Mengert and Joseph Muszynski's screenplay is reasonably personable characters and spirited acting by director Bruce Beresford's cast. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: It's not "On Golden Pond" by any stretch, but it is nice to have Fonda back in the fractious family way. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: If nothing else, you must applaud Peace, Love & Misunderstanding for its cheery insistence that a lifetime of resentment can float away as easily as a helium-filled balloon. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: Beresford directs without purpose or polish, and his mostly fine cast, which includes Kyle MacLachlan and Rosanna Arquette in bit parts, is wasted. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: What's so funny about "Peace, Love & Misunderstanding"? Not enough. Read more

Andrew Lapin, NPR: Peace, Love & Misunderstanding mostly comes across as chintzy and uninspired as its title. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: A crowd-pleasing comedy that isn't going to win any awards for originality. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: It's slight, but pleasurable fun. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: "Peace, Love & Misunderstanding" is an undemanding formula picture that's a lot of superficial fun and not much more. Read more

Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle: There is no casting decision or character nuance or plot turn too obvious to indulge. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: If "Peace, Love & Misunderstanding" strikes you as a thigh-slappingly witty title, there's a chance you will enjoy the entire film. Read more

Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Certainly, there's a comedy to be made about multigenerational conflict. But "Peace, Love & Misunderstanding" never quite finds its groove. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: Only the mighty Fonda cuts through the claptrap; the rest is just a long, predictable trip. Read more

Peter Debruge, Variety: With a weaker cast, this predictable feel-good item might've gone the Lifetime route, but there's no denying its B.O. potential with a force-of-nature central perf by Jane Fonda. Read more

Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: An incompetently structured film that pits hippies against squares with the usual wearying results. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: It's like "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the Catskills. Read more