Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce
Metascore
46 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
view
per page
  1. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    75
    Serves up a dramatic comedy piquant as its title.
    All this critic's reviews
  2. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Bob Graham
    75
    A comedy of interracial wariness and misunderstanding marked by a refreshing lack of sappiness.
  3. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Monica Eng
    63
    Lo's writing is generally solid, and he creates some genuinely funny and touching moments with his use of dream sequences and flashbacks. He may not have gotten his proportions perfect in this first try, but Catfish in Black Bean Sauce shows that Lo has sharp cinematic instincts.
  4. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    63
    As engaging as it is ungainly and scattered.
    All this critic's reviews
  5. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    60
    Chock full of personality and irreverent detail.
  6. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Lisa Alspector
    60
    There are enough plot points to fill an entire soap-opera season, but writer-director Chi Muoi Lo, who also plays the son, somehow manages to juggle them all, turning seemingly superfluous elements into workable drama and metaphor.
  7. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    50
    Ranges from exquisitely sensitive to crass, but overall, it's an interesting effort.
    All this critic's reviews
  8. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    50
    Determined to try your patience, asking you to fall in love with it.
  9. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    50
    Isn't quite as much fun as it could be.
  10. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joe Leydon
    50
    Too mild-mannered and fuzzily focused for its own good.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    40
    There's a nice little story here about the intermingling of cultures, but it rarely gets beyond the obvious clichés.
  12. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Andy Klein
    40
    It's sweet and well intentioned, with occasional amusing moments.
  13. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    38
    A first draft for a movie that could have been extraordinary.
  14. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Amy Taubin
    30
    A progressive but not very funny comedy of manners.
prev next
Page:
  • 1