Janie Jones
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Metascore
52 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critics What's this?

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  • Summary: Rocker Ethan Brand and his band are on the comeback trail when a former flame drops a bomb in his lap: their 13-year-old daughter, Janie Jones. Ethan refuses to believe Janie is his kid, but when her mom suddenly leaves for rehab, the child has no place to go but into the tour bus and on the road with the band. With no feel for fatherhood, Ethan continues his hard-living ways, giving Janie a crash course of the not-so-glamorous life on the road. Nivola and Breslin naturally embrace their musical characters—both actually sing and perform in the film—while developing Ethan and Janie's relationship in a refined way to delicately express the emotional needs of the characters. Writer/director David M. Rosenthal, who was inspired by his own experiences, blends the musical setting with road trip movie elements that add subtle layers to the dynamic of his two main characters. (Tribeca Film)
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Boxoffice Magazine
    Reviewed by: Pam Grady
    Oct 22, 2011
    80
    What this predictable tale lacks in surprises it more than makes up for in charm, good music and the indelible performances of Alessandro Nivola and Abigail Breslin as father and child.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    Oct 27, 2011
    60
    It feels mostly authentic until a contrived ending that leaves a saccharine taste.
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Tom Russo
    Nov 10, 2011
    50
    The actors also acquit themselves well singing the film's numerous tunes. Breslin's voice is pleasantly melodic, while Nivola sounds like someone who's been grinding it out on tour for years.
  4. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    Oct 28, 2011
    25
    The indie road movie Janie Jones is billed as "inspired by the true story" of its writer-director, David M. Rosenthal. Impossible. No one's life is this boring.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

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  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. joelmpa
    5
    Starts off absorbing, band interactions are interesting. But second half is a bore and utterly predictable. Should have let Breslin solo, rather than spend so much time on Nivola's dreary narcissistic monotones. Shue's role could have been developed more, especially her relationship to her daughter. Instead, the ending just doesn't ring true.… Expand

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