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I.O.U.S. A
Roadside Attractions


6.5

based on 18 reviews
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How did we calculate this?

based on 2 votes
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Internet Movie Database

MPAA RATING: PG for some thematic elements

The United States faces an enemy of epic proportions. It's not something you can see on CNN or YouTube. It's not as overtly in your face as wars, natural disasters or terrorism. But this invisible, insidious monster is rapidly growing into a behemoth, threatening to spark an unthinkable catastrophe that will impact the future of the nation and the lives of every single American, no matter who you are. (Roadside Attractions)

GENRE(S):	Documentary
WRITTEN BY:	Addison Wiggin Christine O'Malley Patrick Creadon
DIRECTED BY:	Patrick Creadon
RELEASE DATE:	Theatrical: August 22, 2008
RUNNING TIME:	85 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

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...

100

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

If they handed out an Academy Award for Most Gripping Graphs and Charts, this film would take it.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

It accomplishes an amazing thing. It explains the national debt, the foreign trade deficit, the decrease in personal savings, how the prime interest rate works, and the weakness of our leaders.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

There's no quick fix for a culture "addicted to debt," as one wag puts it in the film. But watching I.O.U.S.A. is a good place to start.

Portland Oregonian Marc Mohan

An informative and frightening documentary.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

They deliver a clear and compelling primer on the federal budget deficit, the trade deficit, and the personal debt crisis, all of which are driving our country toward a catastrophic financial meltdown.

The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

This smartly assembled wake-up call concerning the nation's lousy spending habits proves to be as unexpectedly spirited as it is dispiriting.

Variety Justin Chang

Highly informative documentary reps a heady mix of charts, graphs and talking heads... superb packaging and timely subject matter.

Chicago Tribune Sheri Linden

Packed with facts, figures and the testimony of policy experts, the film is no wallow in wonkiness, though, but a surprisingly sprightly tough-love lesson in fiscal responsibility.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

Though the filmmaking is playful at times, the film is essentially 90 percent message, 10 percent movie.

San Francisco Chronicle Walter Addiego

Does about as good a job as any film could be expected to.

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

It's this year's "An Inconvenient Truth."

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

Although the movie is unabashedly alarming, it's also intelligent fun.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

George W. Bush is hammered for doubling the debt load with his high-spending, low-taxing ways.

The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis

Equal parts enlightening and alarming.

Village Voice Michelle Orange

Both a handy election primer and a bowel-rattling cry of fiscal doom.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bill White

Perhaps, like Al Gore's lecture on global warming, the force of its argument will stir some of those who see it to further research the subject.

Washington Post Philip Kennicott

There is a difference between the importance of a film's subject and the quality of a film's execution. And the execution is lacking. The film just isn't, well, very interesting.

LA Weekly Robert Koehler

One graphic that I.O.U.S.A. doesn't include is a national balance sheet of our assets and liabilities, which would illustrate that the former is more than double the latter. We're in the black, and a film this deep in the red isn't something to be scared of at all -- or taken seriously.

The average user rating for this movie is 6.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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I.O.U.S. A Roadside Attractions

I.O.U.S. A
Roadside Attractions