On Golden Pond 1981

Critics score:
92 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: There is a natural rhythm to the film that makes its own quiet, life-affirming statement. Read more

Vincent Canby, New York Times: On Golden Pond is a mixed blessing, but it offers one performance of rare quality and three others that are very good. That's not half-bad. Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: The cinematic equivalent of shrink-wrapping, in which all of the ideas, feelings, characters, and images are neatly separated and hermetically sealed to prevent spoilage, abrasion, or any contact with the natural world. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Watching the movie, I felt I was witnessing something rare and valuable. Read more

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine: When it sometimes seems the whole society has spiritually decamped for Tinseltown, the movie offers the hope that people can come home again-at least for a visit. Read more

Time Out: Two of Hollywood's best-loved veterans deserved a far better swan song than this sticky confection. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Without question, these are major, meaty roles for Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda, and there could have been little doubt that the two would work superbly together. Read more