63
Metascore
25 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleSan Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleThough Mom is ditzy and, at times, irritating, we come to recognize her as the family's most original creative spirit.
- 78Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenAustin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenA formulaic family melodrama whose craftsmanship and sensitivity to its characters raises it to the level of sublime group portrait.
- 75Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittThis is not a happy tale, and its ending will have moviegoers reaching for every handkerchief they can find. But its compassion is as clear as the talents of the folks who made it.
- 70Washington PostMichael O'SullivanWashington PostMichael O'SullivanAdmirably restrained melodrama.
- 70The A.V. ClubKeith PhippsThe A.V. ClubKeith PhippsIt's a film whose virtues--particularly its rare, intelligent portrayal of the relationship between two generations of women--outweigh its faults.
- 70TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghThe framing story is pointless and almost insulting, even though it's part of former New York Times columnist Anna Quindlen's novel.
- 63San Francisco ExaminerWalter AddiegoSan Francisco ExaminerWalter AddiegoYou may find yourself weeping toward the end, and, later, you may also find yourself wondering why. The revelations are staggeringly obvious.
- 50Village VoiceMichael AtkinsonVillage VoiceMichael AtkinsonQuindlen's book is wry and deeply sad in its prose, but watching actors run this very simple maze is significantly less entertaining, or convincing.
- 40SlateDavid EdelsteinSlateDavid EdelsteinThe movie's themes are enormously resonant, which makes its doddering tastefulness that much more frustrating.
- 38Rolling StonePeter TraversRolling StonePeter TraversEven director Carl Franklin, an artful purveyor of sterner stuff in "One False Move" and "Devil in a Blue Dress," can't prevent One True Thing from descending into chick-movie hell.