Message in a Bottle
User Score
6.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 5 out of 13

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  1. bjc
    Sep 13, 2006
    10
    The book was better, but the movie was still wonderful. A tender romance story, with a very sad ending. The characters are endearing, and mesh well. I hope more movies are made like this.
  2. JessicaK.
    Nov 9, 2008
    10
    I thought the movie was a lovely romance. It is actually about a lie, but if you think about it almost everyone starts their relationships off as a lie. Do to pepole being so guarded in their ways. I thought it was romantic and although the ending was sad it was still a great movie.
  3. LULU
    May 28, 2011
    10
    This film describes one of the most sensibles love stories ever to be told. It combines the struggle between the past and the present of a man that wants to punish himself for the misfortune he had with his lost wife. With no hope, helped by his father, agrees to take a chance with a possible new love, Teresa, a very smart and sensible journalist. The dialog between the characters is breathtaking, the pauses are so intense, it feels so real, as if this is not a film, but indeed the scene of life, where emotions are mixed and the result is always unpredictable. Message in a bottle is about acceptance, about opening your heart after a terrible loss, about forgiveness and appreciation of love and destiny.
    I have seen Message in a bottle every year and it seems every time even better then the last.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
39 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 23
  3. Negative: 6 out of 23
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    The climactic events are shameless, contrived, and wildly out of tune with the rest of the story. To saddle Costner, Penn and Newman with such goofy melodrama is like hiring Fred Astaire and strapping a tractor on his back.
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  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Elvis Mitchell
    40
    Garret is played by Kevin Costner, who should avoid all future roles that call for overalls and goggles and who this time crosses the line from teasingly laconic to stodgy.
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  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    63
    At least this movie has flashes of humor, thought nearly all come courtesy of Newman. [12 February 1999, Life, p.8E]
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