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Al Franken: God Spoke
Metascore
49 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 22
  3. Negative: 2 out of 22
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  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    75
    Less a documentary than a love fest for Al Franken, this scattershot movie, shot over two years, follows the zigzag trail of political satirist Al Franken as he feuds with Bill O'Reilly, campaigns against George W. Bush, and helps establish Air America.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Carina Chocano
    70
    Captures comedian and pundit Al Franken evolving from satirist to activist.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    67
    The film ends with Franken contemplating a run for U.S. Senate, but it's clear that his political campaign began long ago.
  4. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Marta Barber
    63
    Listening to O'Reilly, Anne Coulter and others vilify Franken -- and vice versa -- is part of the dialogue that makes America great.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    63
    Humorist and liberal radio talk-show host Al Franken is a funny guy, and most of the people he attacks - Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Dick Cheney - are not. But the joke was on him when George Bush won re-election in 2004.
  6. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    63
    A lot of preaching to the converted.
  7. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    63
    Neither a profile nor a critique, though, the film's only focus is its subject's mild self-regard.
  8. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Charles Taylor
    60
    Throughout God Spoke, Franken comes off as passionate and funny, with an impressive ability to muster facts and an absence of smugness.
  9. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    60
    Sketchy but often entertaining.
  10. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    50
    Most of this doc is content to wander through Franken's recent show-biz resume, to no particular end.
  11. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    50
    A documentary in search of a story.
  12. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    50
    The film ends before Franken can actually take the step from commentator to participant, which adds to its overall unfinished and unfocused air.
  13. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Ethan Alter
    50
    It's great that the comedian felt the call of a higher office, but it's a call that apparently only he can hear.
  14. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    50
    For me, Franken is funniest at his least guarded and his most incorrect, and as he inches toward becoming a politician himself, we get less and less of that.
  15. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    50
    With the transformation of Al Franken from comedian to activist, Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus stumbled onto a good subject, but in the documentary Al Franken: God Spoke, they stumble around in it.
  16. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    50
    Even his fans may find themselves frustrated, since the film observes Mr. Franken closely without generating much insight into him.
  17. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joe Leydon
    50
    Despite these flashbacks, however, God Spoke never really delves into the reasons and/or motivations behind Franken's transformation from monologist and sketch-comedy performer to political pundit and liberal activist. Indeed, even during intimate moments, Franken rarely comes across as someone given to explaining himself.
  18. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    50
    I love Franken and wish there were more funny liberals in the chattering class, but his crushing sarcasm wouldn't exactly elevate the national debate.
  19. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: M. E. Russell
    42
    Fans of Franken's wittier print and broadcast work might smile. But I haven't seen this much smug, awkward laughter and bathos since, well, "Man of the Year."
  20. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Rob Nelson
    40
    Unfocused but brisk.
  21. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    30
    Neither as adroitly funny as Franken's comic routines, nor as notable as his conversion to the fine art of politics, this is a 90-minute "What If?" with no discernible answer.
  22. The New Republic
    Reviewed by: Stanley Kauffmann
    30
    This film by Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus forces us to make some decisions about him. For myself, I find him generally gross, in person and in manner.
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Miya
    9
    Al Franken is many things. Snob? Maybe Goofy? Yeah, pretty much Arrogant? Not that I can tell Mean? Definitely not. - This guy is a writer and actor for heaven sakes and he's Jewish. What did you expect? Now he takes on politics. His jokes are often a bit lame, but his intentions and actions speak volumes as evidenced on this DVD. Franken lives the message he preaches. I can't think of anyone who has given so much of himself to the GI's in Iraq and Afghanistan. And you know, they love him because they can tell he really cares. - You can say what you want about Al Franken, but he's tops in my book.… Full Review »
  2. IanB
    9
    Al comes across as warm, intelligent and caring. He was especially effective dissecting right wing propaganda to college kids. I saw an early cut with Ann Coulter being an idiot, but she make the directors cut those scenes. I can understand why!… Full Review »
  3. RickW.
    7
    Good enough, but could be better. Franken is better than this movie.
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