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Second Best
EMAILPRINTDream Entertainment Inc.

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 3 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Comedy
Written by: Eric Weber
Directed by: Eric Weber
Release Date:
Theatrical: May 20, 2005
DVD: November 15, 2005
Running Time: 86 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: Not Rated
Starring Joe Pantoliano, Boyd Gaines, Peter Gerety, Bronson Pinchot, Matthew Arkin, Jennifer Tilly, Stephen Bogardus, and Barbara Barrie
A failed publishing executive (Pantoliano) and his best friend from childhood, a successful movie producer (Gaines), compete for the attentions of the same woman (Tilly).
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database
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...
The New York Times Stephen Holden
Sloppy but smart-enough-to-make-you-squirm comedy.
Read Full Review >Film Threat Brad Slager
Two things make this worthwhile: The realistic relationship between Elliot and Richard, and Pantoliano playing against type and actually humanizing a possibly loathsome character.
Read Full Review >Variety David Rooney
While Second Best is mildly engaging thanks largely to an appealingly self-effacing turn from Joe Pantoliano, writer-director Eric Weber's script could have used an extra polish or two.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck
Pantoliano brings his usual degree of wily, understated humor to his role and is ably supported by the terrific ensemble, but he's unable to elevate a film that is ultimately as directionless as its protagonist.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kevin Crust
The strongest scenes are those between Elliot and Richard, which give Second Best a verisimilitude lacking in the rest of the film. The truest thing here is that these two guys have been friends forever and always will be.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Jack Mathews
A guy flick, but I can't imagine many male viewers actually identifying with Elliot or his friends. The depression would be unbearable.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
Second Best might have made a good stage monologue, but as a film it's overstated and barely baked.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Maitland McDonagh
Weber's losers really are losers -- envious, spiteful, complacent, mean-spirited and ultimately boring malcontents pickled in their own poison, and they drag his film down with them.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Jake Tracer
It tries too hard for sincerity, when it's actually more sincere when cynical. Filmed in 17 days with hand-held cameras that give it a home-movie feel, the movie takes blue-collar pride in its own hopelessness.
Read Full Review >New York Post Kyle Smith
If it weren't for "Sideways," Second Best probably wouldn't have been released at all, but the earlier film made you root for a hapless schmo. This one doesn't, mainly because its protagonist is so obnoxious.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Akiva Gottlieb
An ugly, amateurish film that champions mediocrity in a meta-attempt to justify its own ineptitude.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 5.6 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Beth M. gave it a7:
I thought this movie was refreshing - a real life scenerio. This is the stuff most people live with every day - not "Hollywood." Compare the cheesy, over done, non intellectually challenging movies that Hollywood pumps out with French films. French movies have heart and soul and don't use perfect-A list role characters. They use imperfect actors who don't need a que card to tell them it's time to start showing emotion. Though this movie has nothing to do with the French movie industry - my point is it's "real" and the only people who find the whole "loser" thing depressing are probably standing in a heap of denial. Would I go out and buy myself a copy to watch again? No, probably not. Did this movie inspire me. No - it didn't. But, I enjoyed it. It took me from my daily life and helped me escape for 86 minutes. And, it wasn't "Hollywood" - it was fresh, which is what I was most fond of.
rox w. gave it a10:
This is a very funny and honest film, perhaps too honest for most people. it doesn't champion mediocrity, it rages against it and shows us how lazy we've become by settling for second best in almost every aspect of our lives. second best is an important cultural statement. it holds the mirror very closely to our faces. more real, more funny, and much better written than 'sideways'.
Jon A gave it a0:
Annoying as hell, so poorly done that it gave me a headache.
