Let's Go to Prison
Metascore
27 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 9 out of 13
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  1. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    70
    It takes a while to realize that this is actually a sly, very funny comedy, one that stays admirably deadpan every time you think it’s about to veer into gross-out territory.
  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Luke Y. Thompson
    60
    Much funnier and weirder than you think.
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Dennis Harvey
    60
    Unlike the vast majority of rude bigscreen comedies these days, "Prison" may actually improve with repeat viewings, since its best aspects are offhand enough to be missed the first time around.
  4. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    50
    Odenkirk is an expert at the unexpected laugh. (This must be the first prison movie in which a cafeteria put-down involves the painter Lucian Freud.)
  5. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    38
    The sad thing is that Arnett, Shepard and McBride quickly establish a loose, easy camaraderie that's a real pleasure to watch. The shame is that they're working with such unrewarding material.
  6. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    30
    Let's Go to Prison ultimately feels as long as a stint in the big house.
  7. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    30
    I'm a fan of director Bob Odenkirk, but my high hopes for this comedy were dashed by screenwriters Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, and Michael Patrick Jann, all alumi of "Reno 911"!
  8. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Gregory Kirshling
    25
    Nearly laughless.
  9. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Aaron Burgess
    25
    Prison makes its 84-minute running time feel like a five-year sentence with no chance for parole.
  10. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    12
    A comedy that locks up Will Arnett's talent and throws away the key.
  11. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    12
    It's a remarkably laugh-free comedy that takes on a dark subject and skitters along its surface.
  12. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Jennie Punter
    12
    It makes "Little Man," "Scary Movie 3" and "Beerfest" look like comic masterpieces.
  13. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    0
    The real crime here is that Let's Go to Prison made a daring escape from direct-to-video stir into the relative freedom of your neighborhood multiplex. Consider this one disarmed and extremely pointless.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.9 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 6 out of 17
  1. imthenoob
    7
    I have watched it countless times and I still love watching it. Yes its not a perfect comedy, It definently has its flaws, but its still an enjoyable comedy and well worth the watch.… Full Review »
  2. spadenx
    6
    While the film does feature a lot of generic jokes about prison. The cast carries this film well beyond how good it should have been and they make it an enjoyable comedy worth watching.… Full Review »
  3. BlackFox0911
    8
    There was more to this movie than the superficial and sometimes hard-to-harness humor associated with prison life. The ONLY thing that could even be REMOTELY funny about being incarcerated is the realm of sexual humor. But this movie had something more going for it than its humor. It also has a message, one that can be applied to just about any situation. For anyone that has ever doubted whether they can rise to the occasion, this movie is a representation of the fact that, given dire circumstances and the need to survive, people can surprise themselves with what they are capable of. A comedy with a message...that isn't an easy task to accomplish.… Full Review »
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