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American Adobo

EMAILPRINTOutrider Pictures

American Adobo reviews
30
8.1 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 6 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy

Written by: Vincent R. Nebrida

Directed by: Laurice Guillen

Release Date:
Theatrical: January 23, 2002
DVD: May 27, 2003

Running Time: 105 minutes, Color

Origin: Philippines

Summary

RATING: R for sexuality and language

Starring Traci Ann Wolfe, Randy Becker, Christopher De Leon, Paolo Montalban, and Dina Bonnevie

In New York City, over the course of one year, five Filipino-American friends share dinners, experiences, friendship, and romance.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

50

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Tries to cram too many ingredients into one small pot.

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50

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

An intimate, good-humored ethnic comedy like numerous others but cuts deeper than expected.

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50

Village Voice Wendy Lee

Adobo doesn't exoticize the culture so much as leaven it with a sense of ordinariness.

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40

New Times (L.A.) Andy Klein

The film is reasonably entertaining, though it begins to drag two-thirds through, when the melodramatic aspects start to overtake the comedy.

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38

New York Post Megan Turner

Marinated in clichés and mawkish dialogue.

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38

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Offers traditional cinematic gab about marital status, sexual orientation, nationality and degree of fulfillment.

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30

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Though clearly well-intentioned, this cross-cultural soap opera is painfully formulaic and stilted.

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30

The New York Times Stephen Holden

As the film loses its grip on its multiple stories, the title begins to suggest an overheated stew bubbling out of its pot. By the end of the film, the intersecting dramas and histrionic performances have spilled all over the floor, so to speak.

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25

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

The movie is stiff and schmaltzy and clumsily directed.

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20

LA Weekly Paul Malcolm

The film's failings are only highlighted by the fact that while, occasionally, we're granted real glimpses of interior lives, largely emanating from de Leon, Davao and Picache, those lives are never given the chance to take shape.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

'pinionated pinay gave it a5:
Yes, it had good intentions. Yes, it had a good cast. And yes, it was "stiff and schmaltzy and clumsily directed." Basically your average Filipino movie, only transplanted to the States. Nothing really new; altogether disappointing.

American adobo busico gave it a 7:
It was interesting. At least it wasn't the typical crap being laid out today in the Philippine cinemas. I liked it and it was surprisingly enjoyable.

Jun R. gave it a 10:
I watched this movies twice in Fukuoka, Japan. I hope we can watch this movies everywhere in Japan.

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