Dedication 2007

Critics score:
40 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune: Dedication is engaging for a while, but flits from style to style, from dark to loopy comedy, only to settle on gooey romance. Read more

Joshua Katzman, Chicago Reader: Actor Justin Theroux makes an impressive directorial debut, aided by David Bromberg's mordantly funny dialogue. Read more

Joanne Kaufman, Wall Street Journal: You can see where all this is going -- author meets illustrator, crazy person meets sane person, withholding person meets giving person -- but there isn't one interesting thing about the journey. Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: A well-acted comedy-drama that may feature the most disagreeable gang of characters to populate any movie this year. Too bad they're not quite as much fun to watch. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: Crudup delivers a bracing, uncompromising performance, but it's unmistakably a solo turn in a romantic comedy that's supposed to be about the blurring of egos and the fusing of two idiosyncratic voices into a single harmonious duet. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: Theroux brings none of the electric surprise or intensity of his acting to bear on the movie. He seems unhappy with the assignment. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Directed by actor Justin Theroux with a surprisingly saccharine hand, the film is neither believable nor novel. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: Dedication is peppered with drolly passive-aggressive supporting characters and actors equipped to do them full justice. Read more

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News: This might work if there were chemistry between the stars, but eccentric Crudup and girl-next-door Moore may be the worst casting match of the year. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: A pleasingly weird, dryly funny little indie. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Billy Crudup and Mandy Moore are immensely likable. We like them so much we regret having to see them in this story. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: [Director Theroux] has a tendency to overplay things, with self-consciously arty direction and an intrusive soundtrack. Read more

Dana Stevens, Slate: It leaves you wishing the oddball couple well. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Theroux doesn't maintain firm control of the tone, particularly going astray in attempts at comic interludes as well as in the ending. Read more

Aaron Hillis, Village Voice: When Henry says he can't throw away a towel because he's afraid it might have feelings, even Miranda July will want to throttle him. Read more

Hank Stuever, Washington Post: Gratingly hip, joyless, small-budget Dedication is just another example of what New Yorker magazine recently identified as the 'slacker-striver' trope in today's romances. Read more