Gamer
Metascore
27 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 8 out of 13
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  1. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Vadim Rizov
    70
    Neveldine and Taylor’s spazzy (but coherent) action scenes rely mostly on blood spurts instead of feats of badassery, but their dystopia is inventive and their visual schemes diverse.
  2. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Keith Uhlich
    60
    Crank’s Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor direct with their usual flashy brio, and basso profundo Keith David has a sublime cameo as a cop indignant at the thought of a pistachio peanut butter sandwich. It’s that kind of movie, folks.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Josh Modell
    42
    The trouble with Gamer is that it’s weird, but not weird enough for the long haul.
  4. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    40
    The technical barrage of visual and digital effects, quick cuts and strobe lighting does produce something akin to the sensation of playing a video game. So why, one wonders, don't potential viewers simply play one instead of watching this pale imitation?
  5. Variety
    Reviewed by: Rob Nelson
    40
    The audience gets played in Gamer. This latest eye-scraper from writer-directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor is as hopped up as their "Crank" pics, but with dour Gerard Butler as a soldier commandeered by a teenage gamer, it's considerably less interactive.
  6. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Tom Russo
    38
    For long stretches of the PlayStation-minded Gamer, the action does drag.
  7. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    38
    I wonder if Gamer might make a good game; it certainly doesn't make a good movie.
  8. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    30
    Considerably less of a thrillgasm than playing "Frogger" blindfolded.
  9. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Glenn Whipp
    30
    Rarely have the words "game over" come as such sweet relief.
  10. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    25
    As the brutish Kable, Gerard Butler must find out who's pulling his strings, but it's the audience whose chain gets yanked by this headache-inducing techno-violent mishmash.
  11. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    20
    What the movie needs more than anything else is a fast-forward button.
  12. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Cliff Doerksen
    20
    Directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor were responsible for the delirious "Crank" and "Crank 2" but left the magic behind when they threw together this tedious mash-up of "Tron," "Rollerball," "The Matrix," etc.
  13. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Jeannette Catsoulis
    0
    A futuristic vomitorium of bosoms and bullets.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.3 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 150 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 59
  3. Negative: 25 out of 59
  1. grandpajoe6191
    2
    "The Gamer" is a game you will NEVER want to play, especially with Gerald Butler starring in it.
  2. AnonymousMC
    7
    Overall this was an adequate movie. The best parts were the actions scenes. The acting was also very good with a good cast. There were some gaps in the story which made you ask questions. However besides a minor annoyance it did not diminish the value of the movie. I think the problem with the movie lay with the otherstaff such as the director etc. Also this is an action movie. If the viewers go into the movie with this in mind they will enjoy it. If you go into the theather expecting a philosphical movie with academic take on where our world is going you will be deeply diasappointed.… Full Review »
  3. AndrewM.
    0
    Terrible. just terrible. and it gave me a migraine, with all the strobing and odd, jerky camera movements and switches. Maybe worse than Crank 2
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