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Sixty Six

EMAILPRINTFirst Independent Pictures

Sixty Six reviews
57
6.6 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 3 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy  |  Drama

Written by: Peter Straughan
Bridget O'Connor

Directed by: Paul Weiland

Release Date:
Theatrical: August 1, 2008

Running Time: 93 minutes, Color

Origin: UK

Summary

RATING: PG-13 for language, some sexual content and brief nudity

Starring Eddie Marsan, Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Rea, Catherine Tate, Peter Serafinowicz, Geraldine Somerville, Richard Katz, and Ben Newton

It is the summer of '66, and England is about to be consumed by World Cup Fever. For 12 year-old Bernie though, the biggest day of his life is looming: his Bar Mitzvah, and the day he becomes a man. However, Bernie's family is increasingly distracted by the threat of losing their business and their wayward older son, and the scale of Bernie's Bar Mitzvah diminishes daily. Worst of all the Cup Final is scheduled to take place on the same day and when England makes it through the qualifying rounds, Bernie's longed-for Bar Mitzvah looks set to be a complete disaster. (First Independent Pictures)

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...

75

The Onion (A.V. Club) Sam Adams

The movie's climax is enough to provoke genuine tears, and not just from fans of the West Germany squad.

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75

Boston Globe Tom Russo

In the end, though, Weiland ("Made of Honor") pours so much heart into his autobiographically "true-ish" story that accessibility is a nonissue.

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75

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

It's labeled a "true-ish story," and the results are cheeky fun.

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75

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The story line sounds plain and simple, but the movie is enlightened by Bernie's impassioned narration and by a gallery of small comic details.

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60

Village Voice Ella Taylor

You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate its genuine fondness for the claustrophobic warmth of family life among working-class people apprehensively inching their way toward upward mobility.

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60

The Hollywood Reporter Stephen Farber

You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy Sixty Six, but it probably wouldn't hurt.

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50

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Though inspired by Weiland's own childhood, the film's plot sticks close to the underdog's coming-of-age formula and is marred by young Bernie's gratingly self-pitying voice-over.

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50

The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis

Charts a sentimental struggle toward manhood with period-appropriate charm.

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50

New York Post Lou Lumenick

On the plus side is a good cast, including Eddie Marsan and Helena Bonham Carter as Bernie's hapless parents and Stephen Rea as a sympathetic doctor.

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50

Variety Leslie Felperin

While mazel tovs are due for efficient playing and execution, predictable script seldom scores big laughs.

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40

Los Angeles Times Michael Ordona

Instead of depicting a boy's first steps toward manhood -- ceremony aside -- it turns into an uninvolving portrait of self-absorption.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 6.6 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes

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

Jay H. gave it a7:
Very touching, as well as amusing. It displays a nice feel for the time, exceptional performances all around. Well edited, fine direction and writing.

Jim G gave it a5:
Sorry to say this disappoints more than it entertains. The only redeeming grace was Eddie Marsan, whose performances stand out even when material he has to work with is uneven. I love quirky period pieces, but this just doesn't add up.

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