Peeples 2013

Andy Webster, New York Times: This pleasing ensemble comedy, while manifesting Perry trademarks, is very much Ms. Chism's own. And that is to its benefit. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: A predictable domestic comedy with some inspired comic touches. Read more

Andrew Barker, Variety: "Peeples" may appropriate its entire premise and plot structure from "Meet the Parents," but its heart is suffused with French cinema. Read more

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, AV Club: It's a light and occasionally very funny movie; its critical stance-a goldmine for Perryologists-comes more from context than content. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: The elements are all there. They're just thrown together in haphazard fashion. A funny scene here, an attempt at a touching scene there, toss, repeat randomly, the end. Read more

David Germain, Associated Press: These all are amiable people, decent people, sometimes funny people. But unfortunately, the peeps of ''Peeples'' just aren't very memorable people. Read more

Peter Keough, Boston Globe: "Peeples" gets off to a hobbling start, wraps up with the usual bromides, and is pretty much anodyne throughout ... Read more

Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader: Writer-director Tina Gordon Chism implies that people should accept each other for who they are, but with no genuine insight to back up this moral, it feels hollow. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: The slapstick is often clunky, but Robinson has a sweet jester's disposition that keeps many of the gags from collapsing. Read more

Adam Graham, Detroit News: The movie's cliches would be more acceptable if the characters were better drawn, but there's not a memorable one in the bunch. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: In essence, the film is a cross between Meet the Parents and an Adam Sandler idiot-in-a-china-shop comedy. Read more

Laremy Legel, Film.com: Saves itself from a complete belly flop by its good-natured charm. Read more

Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter: The performers are up to the wacko task. But one of the movie's key problems is that it only pretends to let loose, its calculated absurdity firmly tethered to the life lessons that lie in wait. Read more

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: An infectious, warm comedy of family and communication and a promising debut as writer-director for Chism. These "Peeples" are people one should be happy to meet. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: A meet-the-parents-and-their-rigid-disapproval comedy, with a bit of fish-out-of-water humor tossed in. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: "Peeples" is a just-this-side-of-legal knockoff of "Meet the Parents," altered only by minor script details and an African-American cast. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: "Peeples" may not break any new ground, but it's about time Perry threw a family reunion hosted by someone other than Madea. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: Robinson deserves a movie that's polished where this one is haphazard, but he needs to be able to cut loose instead of being reduced to the confusion and blanching he is often called upon to do in this one. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Tina Gordon Chism's debut feature does point out the hypocrisy grown-ups are capable of - hiding secrets, hiding their feelings, even hiding valuable property from one another. Read more

Odie Henderson, Chicago Sun-Times: Chism's cast is game for her shenanigans, and the biggest pleasure of "Peeples" is watching them cut loose under her direction. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Comedies about privileged princesses and unsuitable suitors come in all colors, but "Peeples" is only palatable on a double bill with pink antacid. Read more

Dave McGinn, Globe and Mail: Chism doesn't know when to step on the gas and just go for belly laughs. Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: Even the bouncy score sounds like it was lifted from an old Three's Company episode; that is when they're not all belting out a song about where it's not cool to pee. Read more

Alonso Duralde, TheWrap: It's often rote and by-the-numbers, but writer-director Tina Gordon Chism injects the proceedings with enough smart chat, clever situations and spot-on casting choices to make this well-traveled road feel a little less stale. Read more

Nick Schager, Time Out: Defined by Three's Company-grade humor, this attempt at male-anxiety cringe-comedy is little more than a sitcom writ large ... Read more

Zachary Wigon, Village Voice: While she doesn't quite achieve the screwball zaniness she strives for, Chism deserves commendation for crafting a farcical work that feels like it concerns real characters. Read more

Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture: Pleasant, if inane - helped along by a likable cast that's clearly having fun. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: A bland, quickly disposable romantic comedy. Read more