Bowfinger
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
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  1. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Sarah Hepola
    50
    Just enough laughs to keep you from feeling blatantly shortchanged.
  2. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Milton Kent
    88
    As close to a perfect piece of satire as filmmakers have seen in quite some time.
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    63
    Just enough laughs to keep you watching.
  4. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    63
    Amiable bundle of broad, easy laughs rather than bitingly fierce satire.
  5. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    60
    Enjoyable but thin.
  6. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    One of those comedies where everything works.
  7. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    75
    One of the best and funniest things that Martin, as writer and actor, has ever done.
  8. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    50
    Bowfinger is mediocre . . . can be irksome, tedious, and hard to sit through.
  9. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Hinson
    50
    With the exception of Murphy . . . the rest of the cast Oz has assembled acquit themselves only adequately or worse.
  10. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    100
    Disciplined script -- bitingly funny.
  11. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Ted Fry
    80
    A good-natured farce. It's also really, really funny.
  12. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Manohla Dargis
    90
    A terrifically clever film; has a soft-boilded heart.
  13. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    80
    Has it's share of downtime.
    All this critic's reviews
  14. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    63
    Certainly pleasant, but it's also a bit safe.
    All this critic's reviews
  15. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Elanore Snow
    76
    Savy script... terrific performances... [yet] the movie's herky jerky pacing may leave you wanting.
    All this publication's reviews
  16. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    75
    One of the reasons the move is so funny is that it is only a few degrees away from real life.
  17. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Foreman
    75
    Bowfinger's terrific set-pieces... more than make up for the odd weak moment or thin performance.
    All this critic's reviews
  18. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: David Ansen
    90
    Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy are both in peak form.
  19. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    100
    Spoofy and sweet... endearingly old-fashioned.
    All this critic's reviews
  20. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    83
    Offers a lot of laughs, a heartwarming core.
    All this critic's reviews
  21. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    90
    Inspired funny business that allows Martin to hilariously torpedo Hollywood's corrupt heart.
    All this critic's reviews
  22. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    40
    Mechanical plot that seems dull even before it laboriously clanks and screeches into motion.
  23. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Bob Graham
    100
    A venemous Valentine to Hollywood sugarcoated with laughs.
  24. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    75
    Priceless enough to flush "Metro," "Dr. Dolittle" and "Holy Man" from memory.
  25. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    91
    One terrific comedy that doesn't let up for an instant... a total hoot.
  26. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Elvis Mitchell
    90
    Smoothly directed and acted with glee... showing quick-witted comic spirit.
  27. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    100
    Perhaps the funniest movie for grownups so far this year.
    All this critic's reviews
  28. TNT RoughCut
    Reviewed by: M. Meghan McCarthy
    95
    One of the funniest films of the year... enough laugh-out-loud moments.
    All this publication's reviews
  29. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    50
    Feels soft without being especially affectionate, and only sporadically funny.
  30. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    75
    Aside from the "Nutty Professor," this is the funniest Murphy comedy since the Reagan Administration.
    All this critic's reviews
  31. Variety
    Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    70
    So lunatic that it creates as much puzzled disbelief as it does carefree delight.
  32. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    50
    Never hits a note of high hilarity.
  33. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Rita Kempley
    60
    Lacks emotional depth and intellectual sincerity.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Summersausage
    8
    A marvelous comedy. It was sooo funny just edgy and fun right up to a point it was really good. One of Steve Martins Best movies along with L. A. story.… Full Review »
  2. spacecaptain
    8
    A near-perfect comedy that could only bit a little funnier but still contains some of the funniest moments in comedy films. Great idea, cast, script and execution. Frank Oz has made some really special movies. Bowfinger is one of his best.… Full Review »
  3. JoeS.
    5
    Enjoyable to watch, but it is farce all the way through. And you get the sense that the filmmakers were so dumb they didn't even understand that it was farce they were making. It wasn't a particularly "bad" movie, but it was thin and pathetic, and seemed to take no effort or filmmaking skill to make.… Full Review »
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